I recently spent a week in Iran on a trip to see the country and its people. As most people know, Saudi Arabia supported Saddam Hussein in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war on all levels — political, financial and military — to the tune of $30 billion.
So, it is not surprising that I felt some trepidation when I arrived in Iran. However, I did not encounter any of the expected hostility. Rather, I was treated with considerable friendliness and hospitality by everyone I met.
Iran is a country whose people have gone through 20 years of revolution and war. The war with Iraq left an estimated half a million dead, and double that number maimed and wounded.
On top of that, the US has imposed a severe economic embargo and continues to do its best to destabilize the country and inflict misery upon its people (in the name of freedom, of course).
The Iranian people have faced these adversities with grace and resolve, which are obvious to any visitor by the quiet confidence and pride in themselves they display.
Iran today has become an industrial power in our region to be reckoned with. As we say, they are able to build from a pin to a rocket.
There is no doubt that their national interests are decided by themselves and that they answer to no one else.
I am not a very good travel writer, so forgive me if I am unable to convey the beauty of the country and the sheer variety of the natural environment. Every part of Iran speaks of a long and rich history as a major part of world civilization.
They have been successful in preserving their cultural and historic landmarks as living functioning entities, not as dead museums. You move within their ancient Bazaars and out into the modern city seamlessly.
Every city I visited, great or small, had at least one public library and museum. However, their shopping malls are insignificant compared to our magnificent ones.
This shows their sense of priority. This should not come as a surprise, as their civilization is 6,000 years old.
Iran is a wonderful place. I hesitate to go on because I selfishly do not want to encourage any of you to go, so I can have it all to myself. If I see any of you strolling on the banks of the Zayandeh River or in the rose gardens of Kashan, I shall be extremely miffed!
