It is possible to go to Iran as a tourist and have a great time visiting interesting places and getting to know friendly people.
As Iran makes a push to increase inbound tourism Saeed Kamali Dehghan, staff journalist of The Guardian, takes a look at Iran's top tourist destinations – from ancient cities and beach resorts, to its modern capital and skiing destinations.
These beautiful photographs, taken by various photographers, present a fascinating side of this country.
Included are photos of the ruins of the ancient capital of Persepolis, a ninth-century mosque in the desert city of Yazd, a famous garden in Shiraz, a ninth century shrine in Mashhad, a ski resport north of Tehran, and the giant Milad tower in Tehran.