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The Islamic Republic remains in many ways cut off economically from the rest of the world. Big-name Western brands shun the market for fear of violating sanctions that remain in place even after the country's landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
That means no KFC—just local upstarts like "Iran Fried Chicken"—or credit and ATM cards connected to global banking networks. Visitors to the country must carry in thick wads of dollars. Many popular social-networking sites like Facebook are blocked by government censors.
Order from Amazon or call an Uber? Forget about it.
In their place, a surprisingly active tech startup scene has sprung up. It's driven by a growing number of Iranian millennials who see their country of 80 million people not as an isolated outcast but as a market ripe with opportunity.
Among the fastest-growing companies in the digital transformation is Snapp, the ride-hailing app Meisami uses.
He estimates he makes more than $900 working in a good month, pulling in a much larger cut per fare than he would driving for a traditional taxi-style car service. His hours are long—12 hours a day most days a week—but he likes being able to pick when and where he works.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Monday June 05 2017, @11:31PM (7 children)
Iran has a thriving and prosperous minority of religious Christians, mostly ethnic Armenians and Assyrians, both of whom are native within Iranian borders.
Christian doctrines and religious imagery are a noticeable component in the historical development of Persian mystical and love poetry, with a vogue that was at peak in the 17th and 18th centuries. These still figure in popular cultural themes.
Despite media representation, Iran is not a society in which zealotry has ever principally figured. The vast majority of the Iranian population is well-under 30 years old, and it is a commonly held view that the so-called revolutionary government by clerical authorities has brought religion into disrepute.
Regardless of your faith, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a country on earth where you would be more welcome, lavishly treated and even embarrassed by hospitality, than in Iran. Yes. This includes Jews and professed atheists.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 06 2017, @12:15AM (2 children)
Life there seems hampered by having religious police and nosy neighbors watching you for doing any religious transgressing. Free speech is probably not a thing..
(Score: 2) by nethead on Tuesday June 06 2017, @12:29AM
So, like Kansas?
How did my SN UID end up over 3 times my /. UID?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday June 06 2017, @12:56AM
Religious vigilante neighbors aren't a real problem. Not in Tehran, for the most part. Instead, it's like the US.
Don't get into grudge feud with your neighbor, or they will use your vodka-fueled party night to call police, as a nuclear option.
Mostly these are fines and reprimands, but the Baseej like to make occasional examples, especially if there are possible liberal-leaning election cycles coming. You only need to pick a few, now and again, not enforce as the rule, when there is flogging. In this, Tehran resembles Singapore - not usually cited as a target for bigoted ignorance because of its liberties outrages.
The neighbor thing seldom occurs. It really is nuclear, and there's inevitable social consequence. Your neighbors know YOUR dirt, too. Like the satellite dish, etc.
I wouldn't want to live there - but damned if I wouldn't EASILY choose it over Ukraine, or Israel, for that matter.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 3, Informative) by nethead on Tuesday June 06 2017, @12:36AM
We had a radio host (Dave Ross, KIRO-FM) travel to Iran back in 2010 and he found the same as a Catholic. He also mentioned that when he asked about all the "Death to America" chants he was told to take them in the same way he would take Red Sox fans yelling "Yankees Suck!" Understandably they don't like some US foreign policy but have no ill will toward actual Americans.
How did my SN UID end up over 3 times my /. UID?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 06 2017, @05:06PM (2 children)
Right, you can't judge American's by Trump just as you can't judge Iranians by Khamani.
Main difference is Khamani has been there for 30 years, the US has at most 8 years of Trump.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Wednesday June 07 2017, @11:48PM (1 child)
Khamenaei only 20-odd. But point taken.
The structure of Iranian parliamentary, presidential and judicial government is bogglingly complex. The position of "Supreme Leader" is like having the life-term Chief Justice in a position superior to the president, with carte-blanche veto. Sort of.
The differences between how this was designed, how it actually works, and historically how Khamenaei was appointed though a political miscalculation by Rafsanjani's "moderate pragmatic" faction could go on for hours.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Wednesday June 07 2017, @11:56PM
30 years! Whoa! you ARE right. Damn. Easy to lose a whole decade there.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...