Les plaisirs de la Perse

Persia was the second "French Riviera" in the 1920s through to the 1960s, for Europeans and others of the Gulf region. Sadly, the beginning of the end of the country's freedoms started back in 1953 when the C.I.A. assassinated the democratically elected President so the U.S. government could then replace him with a puppet President that was pro-foreign development. This led to a very strong, already-existing, overly zealous religiously-based opposition party to begin to expand its movement culminating in the 1977/78 new government that combined very strong beliefs with government without any separation of the two; which in turn led to intolerance and over-militarisation. In current times, as soon as young Iranian women board and take off to most destinations outside of Iran, and on certain airlines, under most circumstances, their complete freedoms begin, and more often than not, then dress European. This governmental oppression is so sad; as all of the Iranians I have met are wonderful people. One can only hope the young people of Iran are able to change their government to something more pre-1950s and peace-loving.