[steve19]

> I recommend going and making your own mind up, and yes, the music was amazing.

Not if you are Israeli, have visited Israel or have any connection to Israel because you will be banned from entering or even transiting the country. Especially not if you are gay couple because homosexuality is illegal, or if you are a non-operative transsexual person. If you are a married gay person you would have to lie on your visa application. If you are an American businessman it would also be inadvisable, the regime is currently holding five hostage. Also avoid if you are a sailor, the regime often grabs a passing ship when they need some hostages and collateral.

So a wonderful country to visit if you are not a minority or useful as a hostage /s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Iran#Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign_nationals_deta...

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-seizes-south-korean-flagged-oil-t...

[h0l0cube]

It seems like you're hijacking this thread to make a your own political point. The people of Iran are also caught up in the mess, and this especially includes musicians and artists, who are often activist, but don't have a huge global voice, or global concern. The country and it's people are beautiful, but, yes, it's not just sanctions affecting the country, but also oppression from the theocratic government downwards. Interesting to note, that the most recent study of religious affiliation in Iran shows that roughly only a third identify as Shia muslim:

https://theconversation.com/irans-secular-shift-new-survey-r...

For people who want a deeper dive into the geo-political issues and growing secularism movement across the Middle East, I'd highly recommend the provocatively titled 'Secular Jihadists' podcast. The hosts are both ex-pat apostate Muslims, one from Iran, one from Saudi Arabia, and they have interesting insights into West Asia, and secularism in general.

[steve19]

> It seems like you're hijacking this thread to make a your own political point

No I am not. I was making a salient legal point. The OP recommended visiting and making up your own mind. I pointed out that for many people that would be dangerous and illegal.

I have sympathy for the Iranian people who have a wonderful culture but are held captive by a repressive fanatical regime.

[nickt]

As I said, I recommend going and making your own mind up. That includes about going.

Everything you mention can be worked around, should you chose to go down that path. I met folks from each of your classifications in Iran. True, not easy for them, but, you know, wasn't easy in the US or Europe that long ago either. Tolerance isn't equally distributed, as we all know.

It's our planet, dammit, and we should be able to go where we want based on our own risk profile. None of those problems you mention are unique to Iran.

Nothing of what you said takes anything away from the people of Iran. Flawed leadership and policy - yes, again, something we're all probably familiar with no matter where we're born or where we live.

[bdefore]

My sympathies to the Israelis who would like to travel to Iran. My greater sympathies to the Palestinians who would like to travel within their own neighborhoods.

[29athrowaway]

In the West bank, there are Israeli checkpoints everywhere and whenever non-compliance happens, collective punishment is applied (which is against the Geneva conventions).

[ARandomerDude]

> non-operative transsexual person

I have no idea what this means. We're making up identities so quickly it's hard to even keep up with the jargon.

[steve19]

It is simple descriptive term that means a trans person who has not had gender reassignment surgery. It is legal to be a post-operative transsexual person, but not a non-operative transsexual in Iran.

[namirez]

Your comment is sad but true; that said Iran wasn’t always like this and I’m sure it won’t be. As an Iranian in diaspora I hope my people win their painful struggle for having a free and just society for everyone.

[cies]

The current Iranian political religious hardline situation has pretty much been the result of the US/UK meddling with their politics and having the democratic/progressive guy killed at some point.

It's disgusting.

[29athrowaway]

When you visit Israel your passport is not stamped so they have no way of knowing you have visited Israel.