Civilian Diplomacy

Photo essay: American grassroots delegations to Iran

by Diocal
05-May-2009
 

Two-week trip to Iran (including Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, and Qom) with a citizen delegation sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation. We are working together and with partners in Iran to improve relations between our peoples. It has been an incredible experience and more photos are forthcoming.

Apply today to join FOR’s 2009 delegations to Iran: Scheduled for May 15-30; Late Summer/ Early Fall. The Fellowship of Reconciliation has a distinguished history of successful “behind the scenes” friendship and solidarity delegations to regions in political conflict. The organization coordinated multiple trips to the former U.S.S.R. during the Cold War and to Vietnam during the 1960s; to Central America in the 1980s and Palestine/Israel during recent years; and it currently manages regular delegations to Colombia, the most militarized nation in Latin America. We are proud to offer this rare opportunity for leaders of U.S. civil society to meet leaders and citizens of Iran>>>

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re. Travelers

by Sean McConnell (not verified) on Thu May 07, 2009 10:05 PM PDT

There are several reasons why we travel to these cities.

First is that we are actually on a tour led by the Ministry of Culture. Even though there might be some government control of these trips, I really think that they do the best they can with groups of 15 to 20 Americans who say that they want to visit centers of government, religion and culture.

There is a lot of time spent in Tehran which makes sense. It gives the group proximity to the government, students, professors, religious leaders, organizations, artists...

Next, I think that it's just easy to travel to these cities when you only have 2 weeks on the ground in Iran. We had planned to go to Susa to visit Daniel's Tomb. We traveled with a rabbi, Lynn Gottlieb, and I think that it would have been great to visit that site with her, but we simply didn't have the time. There are meetings every day, and then the touristy stuff.

Now that I have been once as a "citizen diplomat," I have made the friends I would love to visit again, and I now have jumping off points to really get around. Next time I would love to go to Mt. Damavand and visit the Caspian coast.


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if you want relationship

by former agent (not verified) on Wed May 06, 2009 02:28 PM PDT

go to Kurdistan, Baluchestan and Lorestan and then end your trip in Ghazvin. By then you will decide if you want to better the relationship or not. Shiraz and Isfahan is a reminder of visiting Soviet Union.


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Travelers

by interested (not verified) on Wed May 06, 2009 01:46 PM PDT

Why do all these people only go to Tehran , Shiraz and Isfahan. Lucky we are to also see them in Qum. Does this country have other cities?


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Beautiful pictures,though

by Anonymousobserver123 (not verified) on Tue May 05, 2009 10:43 AM PDT

Beautiful pictures,though mostly gloomy!


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Jahanshah Javid

Open borders

by Jahanshah Javid on Tue May 05, 2009 10:14 AM PDT

These contacts between our peoples must continue and expand. It's ridiculous that people are not free to travel. How is this situation benefiting any government? Governments want to turn their backs against each other, fine. But leave us people alone!

Americans have a great time in Iran, Iranians love to visit the U.S... open your borders for god's sake! On top of promoting understanding there's lots of mmmmmmoney to be made.


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