Safety of Iran
While Iran is becoming a more appealing destination for travelers all over the world, one question is at the tip of everyone’s tongue: Is Iran safe for tourists? Because of the complicated political situation, sanctions, and talks of including the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) on the list of terrorist organizations of the world, the Western media and Western governments alike tend to portray the country as a dangerous destination, and generally advise their citizens against visiting the country. However, if you actually know someone who has been to Iran, you’ve probably heard them rave about Iranians’ hospitality and kindness, and have heard them mention our country as one of the safest they have visited.
So where is this contrast about the safety of Iran coming from? And what’s the most responsible thing to do? Well, as the people of Iran, we’re certainly far from pleased with our government and don’t think of it as a fair representation of us.
Separation of the Iranian Government and the People
Now we can’t deny the crimes, problems, and potential risks that are committed or caused by this regime, but what we do know is that we would love our tourism industry to prosper, not only because we love having tourists and introducing them to our ways and our culture, but because of the fact that we know how much it would help our economic growth, and because we know Iran has a lot of potential that needs to be realized.
With all of that being said, what we intend to do in this article is to provide an unbiased opinion on whether or not Iran is a safe country to visit, what makes Iran safe and what makes it unsafe, and to guide you through the potential dangers you may come across.
If you still have any questions regarding this matter after finishing this post, don’t hesitate to contact us! And we can help you with everything you need when you come to Sarv Hostel, and be sure to check our Instagram, because who knows what events we may have!
Media and the Political Climate: The Global Image of Iran Safety
As we have already mentioned, you probably don’t have the most accurate image of the safety of Iran in mind. For years and years, Iran has been portrayed as a dangerous country by the Western media: A place where you will be held hostage by the government, become a victim of terrorism in border areas, be mugged, etc. This is mainly because of the political tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran with the United States, the UK, and most other prominent Western countries, our government’s lack of compliance with global protocols, and the sanctions put in order by the aforementioned powerful countries against the IRI. So, this puts the safety of Iran under question.
Crime Rate in Iran
Let’s first address the less complicated issues: As far as the crime rate in Iran goes, you don’t really have anything to worry about. In fact, you’re much safer in Iran than most European countries, as pickpocketing and theft are far less common in Iran than they are in countries like Italy, France, or Germany. That certainly does not mean you should throw all caution to the wind: You should keep in mind that the fact that you’re bound to be carrying large amounts of cash on you means you are at risk of being stolen from no matter where you are. A good way of going about this would be to get yourself a credit card.
Concerns About the Safety of Iran Regarding Political Tensions
As for the situation with the government being extra cautious with some tourists, this is not a risk that applies to you if you don’t do something extremely irresponsible. Things would be different if you’re traveling with a US/UK/Israel passport of course, in that you wouldn’t be allowed to enter the country in the first place. Generally speaking, as long as you don’t try to photograph, film, or linger around important government offices and buildings, you’ll be perfectly fine. Is Iran safe politically? Not really, but you’re on a trip. You can easily stay away from dangerous situations.
The Supposedly Unsafe Regions
About the more unsafe regions of Iran, you’ll still find the people to be very friendly and welcoming, but it’s not a bad idea to travel those parts with a guide. You’re still not going to be in any real danger in the cities of Sistan and Baluchestan or Kurdistan, and it is worth mentioning that it would be truly a shame to miss out on some of these areas, but there might be some risk the closer you get to the borders. Still, as long as you travel responsibly, you’re going to be fine.
Protests and Civil Unrest: How They Affect the Safety of Iran
While things are much calmer now (for better or for the worse) than they were some months ago, just beware that the most responsible thing you can do if you come across a demonstration is to stay out of it. It’s not your fight, and it’s not your place. And certainly don’t try to take pictures or film them, as you will be at risk of governmental inspection and possible detention. That does not necessarily put the safety of Iran under question, it’s just a general risk when visiting countries that are going through civil unrest. It’s important to know that the government also does not want to make its international image more of a mess than it already is.
Is Iran Safe for Female Solo Travelers?
This is another matter that is important globally, but even more so when you’re talking about more old-fashioned, patriarchal countries. Iranian men tend to be religiously and culturally protective towards women. That’s certainly not a great thing, as it’s not equivalent to being respectful towards women and has some very negative impacts on their freedom in the country, but that is an issue for another article. The point is that Iran is -again- safer for solo female travelers than a lot of European countries.
Still, there are some things that you should pay attention to, as this concept is unfortunately still foreign to a lot of people. When talking about the safety of Iran for female travelers, these are the things that come to mind.
Accommodation Safety of Iran
Is Iran safe as far as accommodation goes? Well, you’re not in any real danger if you’re staying at places of accommodation in Iran. Most hostels in the country have a female dormitory available, which may be a more comfortable option for you, and there’s always the option of getting yourself a private room. A more complicated issue comes into play when we’re talking about people inviting you over to stay at their houses. First of all, you should know that this is in almost all cases more of a gratuity than an actual offer. It’s a concept we call “Taarof”, and we have talked about it a bit in another blog.
The main thing is that accepting such an offer is generally pretty irresponsible, culturally, economically, and personally speaking. As far as your safety goes, it’s certainly a risk, but you’re usually not going to be in much danger. We realize it’s very difficult to trust strangers who invite you over to their place of residence, and we realize that may scare you off initially, but most of these people don’t have any intent but to be as hospitable and friendly as possible. We’re not telling you to accept such offers, and we’re not telling you to reject them. Just use your best judgment!
Couchsurfing and the Related Causes of Concern
The other thing that comes to mind when talking about the safety of accommodation is Couchsurfing. While this platform has tried to provide a safe experience for its users, the issue of sexual harassment remains to be a problem. This important issue is unfortunately not paid the attention it deserves in a lot of countries. While we certainly hope that one day this worrisome problem will be resolved for solo female travelers around the world, in the meantime, it’s best to proceed with the utmost caution.
Dress Code
So, a very important question regarding the safety of Iran that has probably entered your mind is: As a tourist, how should you deal with the concept of hijab? Here’s the thing: The authorities don’t necessarily expect tourists to adapt to compulsory Hijab. Perhaps the biggest issue you’ll face is getting some strange looks from locals, especially in more old-fashioned cities such as Yazd or Isfahan (this also to some extent applies to men wearing shorts, etc.). As far as respecting the culture goes, you should know that not a lot of Iranians are on board with the compulsory hijab thing, at least not unless you’re in smaller cities and towns or the aforementioned old-fashioned cities.
In any case, the best idea probably is to have a shawl with you at all times, even if you’re not going to be wearing it. Again, you don’t have to worry about the morality police or anybody else in an official capacity bothering you, but having something that you can use as a hijab around your neck or in a bag can come in handy when you feel out of place. It’s also worth mentioning that visiting religious attractions such as the Shahcheragh Shrine in Shiraz requires a full Islamic hijab, and you will be handed the necessary pieces of clothing at the entrance.
Necessary Precautions: Iran Safety
So, all in all, let’s review what we have talked about. The chances that you will be a victim of petty crimes are not very likely, but it’s still best to try and eliminate your use of cash in order to avoid being an easy target. The government is also not going to arrest or detain you just because you’re a foreigner. As long as you use your common sense and avoid demonstrations and politically sensitive areas and buildings, you’re not in any real danger.
There are very few regions in Iran that would be considered dangerous, but if you’re visiting those regions with an expert guide, you’ll be able to enjoy your time and be sure of your safety in Iran.
Advice for Female Travelers
Generally speaking, Iran is a safe country for female travelers, but applying the usual precautions is recommended. You don’t have any responsibility whatsoever to the people of Iran to wear a full hijab, nor do you have to comply with other religious rules: You can appreciate the culture from afar in a more responsible way.
You also don’t have any obligation to partake in political demonstrations and protests, in fact, you’re putting yourself and others in danger by doing so or posting photos and videos from such events publicly while you’re still in Iran. What makes Iran safe for you is that you aren’t responsible towards its politics.
And that’s pretty much it! The answer to the question “Is Iran safe for tourists?” is yes, it is in fact much safer than what you probably assume. We hope you find this article helpful, and we hope to see you in our country in the near future!
Find out about the other essential parts of your trip to Iran in our blogs!
