Iran is dominating the headlines this week, after the US bombed three nuclear facilities in the country.
But YouTuber Drew Binsky, who visited the Middle-Eastern state before the recent escalation with Israel, says he saw a side of Iran that the Western media never show.
Everywhere he went on his road trip from the cosmopolitan city of Shiraz, right up the Kurdish-dominated territory in the north of Iran, Drew says he was was met with smiling faces and a generous welcome.
Before the last Shah of Iran was deposed, in 1979, Iran was a surprisingly westernised country, with the capital, Tehran, being regularly compared to Paris. But after Ayatollah Khomeini seized power, Drew says, “many see Iran as a scary place to visit.”
But the traveller, who has visited all 197 countries in the world, describes Iran as one of his “favourite” destinations and believes that the country has an unfairly bad reputation.
“In my experience, the media overlooks the warmth of Persian people,” he said. “Iranians are really, really friendly and hospitable. You can see wherever we go, people come up to you. They talk to you. They want to know your ideas about Iran, and they are very friendly.”
Most of the locals Drew had chatted to had never met an American before. One Iranian woman promised that Americans could be sure of a warm welcome if they came to Tehran for a holiday.
“Iran is safe,” she said, “Don’t let the news cheat you. If you travel to Iran, it’s very economical, very safe, and people are, very welcoming and nice to you. So you will have a nice stay in Iran. I can promise.”
Iran undeniably has its dark side. According to the BBC, Iran carries out more executions than any other country, except China, and homosexuality is banned. Iranian censorship is considered to be some of the most extreme worldwide.
The Foreign Office itself advises against all travel to the country, claiming UK nationals are at significant risk of “arrest, questioning or detention”. The entire country is in the “red zone”, with the government warning British nationals already in the country to “consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying”.
Nevertheless, Drew is a huge fan of the country, and its spectacular sights.
One local, who had welcomed Drew into his home for a traditional Iranian meal said that most Iranians realised that there was no genuine reason for Iranians and Americans to fear each other. He said “all the problems are between governments”.
Another Iranian man that Drew interviewed echoed his words. He said: “People are people everywhere… the problem is between our governments”
Although one person told Drew he could well have been the only American in Iran, the country’s tourism industry has gone through a remarkable boom in recent years.
In 2019, the country was listed as the world’s third fastest-growing tourism destination, and Iran’s tourism saw growth of 43% in 2023, attracting some six million foreign tourists.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
