I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and respond to your 4-word insult comment, because I think it’s important and I’m assuming you either didn’t realize that OP is saying they currently won’t go there because of the political situation, or you’re saying that the existence of the current political situation completely erases any potential historical or cultural value the people and the country may have or have ever had or ever will have and that’s a really awful thing to say and I can’t imagine how someone could have that attitude without intentional hyperbole unless they’re being a disgustingly intolerant bigot.

Iran is a beautiful country, in most of its history it was Persia. They were fierce warriors yes but also academics and scholars. They provided the foundation of modern astronomy and mathematics and were a beacon of civilization and education. We literally use “arabic” numbers today because of them. There is beautiful architecture, beautiful geography, beautiful wildlife in Iran and none of that had any choice about the government. There are wonderful people there, including ones who protest the regime and fight for democracy and human rights.

The modern tyrannical islamofascist government sucks and of course nobody should go there now or at any foreseeable point in the future, but it’s not stupid to want to go there, and if they had a safe, friendly democratic nation (which it should be pointed out many of the people in Iran and who have fled Iran’s current regime would also like) I absolutely would love to visit too. I’m less interested in North Korea, personally, but I can understand that it might appeal to others and there might be interesting places and things and people there too that I’m just not interested in or don’t know about. I would also love to go to Russia too. Again, I would only do that without the government or the bad parts of their culture, but I still love many of the parts of their history and culture. I don’t hate the people or the land. I hate the evil governments and the shitty cultural attitudes.

Try not to have shitty cultural attitudes yourself, appreciate and avoid invalidating the good parts of other people’s cultures, and it will help the world to be a better place where we can all get along.

Watch the Anthony Bourdain “Parts Unknown” episode about Iran for some perspective without the propaganda… Just like the US, the government is awful, but the people, in general, seem wonderful.

I would hope that people from other countries would give me the benefit of the doubt that myself and every other American aren’t pieces of shit just because our government is literally evil.

We’re there now. Im indigenous Central American but live in Canada. I have tattoos, and a ton of anti trump stuff on my phone. If I tried to enter the us I would immediately get hauled off and tossed in a gulag, back to a Central American shithole like where I started

Wonder if they’d expect Southern “occupied” Koreans go?

Yes, which is why it’s important for them to realize what they’re getting themselves into. Did Warmbier deserve what happened to him? Absolutely not, but knowing what happened and still going over there to play tourist means you’ve understood, accepted and internalized the possible risk. I will reserve my tears for the many thousands of people who get into trouble through no fault of their own.