🇮🇷 “Dangerous Iran”? What I Found Shocked Me
The U.S. State Department warns of “terrorism, kidnapping” in Iran. As an American YouTuber, I went anyway—and within hours, everything I believed was turned upside down.
🌹 Shiraz: Where History and Hospitality Collide
My first stop: Shiraz, Iran’s “city of poets.” At the Pink Mosque (Nasir al-Molk), stained glass painted the floors in a rainbow, with zero crowds. Nearby, the 2,500-year-old ruins of Persepolis stood nearly empty.
Local Encounter:
“You’re American? Welcome! Let me buy you tea!” —Reza, a shopkeeper who refused to let me pay for souvenirs.
🏕️ Nights With Nomads: The Qashqai People
In the Zagros Mountains, the Qashqai nomads invited me into their tents. We ate:
✔ Fresh bread baked over fire
✔ Kale pache (lamb stew)
✔ Chai served with handfuls of sugar
They asked about Trump, Hollywood, and why Americans think Iran is ‘scary’.
💰 Iran on $100? Here’s What You Get
🔹 $3 – Feast on kebabs + saffron rice
🔹 $7 – Silk scarf in Isfahan’s bazaar
🔹 $70 – Handwoven carpet (yes, really!)
🔹 $0 – Countless invitations to dinner
👗 The Dress Code “Rebellion”
In Tehran’s cafes, women wore loose headscarves; some even let them slip off. “The rules are softer now,” whispered a university student. But in conservative Mashhad, I saw full chadors.
💡 What No News Report Will Tell You
1️⃣ Police helped me when I got lost—no hostility.
2️⃣ Every restaurant gave me free extra food.
3️⃣ Young Iranians begged me: “Tell your people we’re not our government.”
🚗 Road Trip Reality Check
🔹 Safety: Felt safer than Paris (zero theft, no scams).
🔹 Internet: VPNs are everywhere (Instagram? No problem).
🔹 Politics: Locals rolled their eyes at their leaders—and ours.
✈️ Should YOU Go?
✅ Yes if: You respect local customs (dress modestly, no alcohol).
❌ No if: You have Israeli stamps in your passport.
Pro Tip: Fly via Turkey or UAE—no U.S. passport issues.
🌍 The Bottom Line
Iran isn’t the “axis of evil.” It’s Persian poetry, $1 rosewater ice cream, and grandparents who hug you like family.
“The most misunderstood country I’ve ever visited.” —Drew Binsky
15 Sacred Structures So Stunning, They’ll Leave You in Tears — #3 Took 4,000 Elephants to Build!
Tragic plane crashes caught on camera (Don`t open if you are soft-hearted)
