MYTH: Iran is a dangerous place where Western tourists – and particularly Americans – are neither welcomed, nor permitted to visit the country
FACT: Iran is a safe country where Western tourists - including Americans - are warmly and enthusiastically welcomed. Furthermore, it is a wonderful place to explore, full of extraordinary history, amazing architecture, diverse landscapes, delicious food and a vibrant and engaging culture.
Read MoreOver 60 percent of Iran’s approximately 80 million people are under the age of 30. Since this is the preferred demographic for marketing, it is no surprise that international and local brands alike are competing to reach untapped markets among the nation’s growing youth. Indeed, the advertising industry in Iran has already grown into a 600-million-dollar giant. Moreover, since Iran has the largest internet and smartphone penetration rate in the Middle East, “Advertising Technology” (AdTech) now plays a major role in modernizing marketing and advertising strategies in the previously economically isolated nation.
Read MoreIran fosters a thriving domestic tech scene that hosts multi-million dollar companies like Café Bazaar and Aparat and appears ripe for further growth after sanctions relief from the JCPOA. Around two-thirds of Iran’s population is under the age of 35, while 42% are under 24. In addition to a sizeable young, tech-savvy population, there are roughly 56 million Internet users in Iran, forming a substantial potential customer base for cutting-edge tech startups.
Read MoreMYTH: Persians and Arabs are one-and-the-same.
FACT: Persians and Arabs are two distinct ethnic groups – two peoples with different languages, cultures, and histories. Properly grasping this distinction is critical to any understanding of Iran and its dynamic role in the contemporary Middle East.
Read MorePrior to the implementation of international sanctions, over 57 private and public foreign bank branches operated outside of Iran, with that number declining until all were eventually closed. With sanctions lifted in January 2016, over 50 new branches are expected to open internationally. There are currently requests by several banks to open branches and resume business within Iran, though some have already begun to handle customers’ transactions within the nation.
Read More“The government will never be a good manager in industry, including the car industry. The sector should be completely privatized and competitive. The partnership [with foreign carmakers] will drive us ahead.”
With these words, President Hassan Rouhani, in a nationally broadcast speech, invited foreign investment to participate in Iran’s auto industry. Following years of devastating sanctions on manufacturing, analysts believe Iran’s auto parts industry, the nation's second largest economic sector, is ripe for growth.
Read MoreMYTH: It is commonly believed that Iranians hate Jewish people, thanks to their government’s anti-Zionist statements.
FACT: The truth is more complicated. Iran boasts the largest community of Jews outside of Israel, and Jews in Iran enjoy various protections under the law, access to synagogues and schools, and political representation. And, while they do face discrimination from the state, Iranian Jews generally live comfortable, middle-class lives – and they have long been a part of the Iranian story.
Read MoreIran’s hospitals are undergoing rapid development. In 2012, the Ministry of Health and Medical Evaluation initiated an evaluation system for hospitals in Iran to bolster the quality of services provided. And, in 2014, the Iranian government announced a new program to extend health insurance coverage to all Iranians, in the fashion of “Obamacare” in the United States. Under the new Tarh-e Salaamat health plan, the state pays for 90% of patients’ medical bills in hospitals. Thus, while Iranian hospitals do face challenges in structural support and resources, there are significant opportunities for growth in the country’s medical sector.
Read MoreFollowing last year’s implementation of the nuclear deal, companies around the world have taken a serious interest in the Iranian telecommunications industry. The population of Iran, the second-largest in the Middle East, is mostly young – over 60% of Iranians are below the age of 30 – and, therefore, more likely to consume new technologies, cellular devices, and electronics. Thanks to deregulation, the introduction of 3G and 4G network services, and a robust start-up culture, Iran’s telecom industry offers a promising, and highly lucrative, new frontier for the global economy.
Read MoreMYTH: Iran has contributed little in the way of culture or history
FACT: Nothing could be farther from the truth. Iranians are heirs to some of the world’s largest and most extraordinary civilizations, and their cultural roots stretch all the way back to ancient history. After the expansion of Arab kingdoms in the medieval period, Iranians continued to make indelible contributions to humanity, with their effulgent poetry, religious traditions, and art. Today, Iranians are among the world’s best filmmakers, poets, and novelists.
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