Long avoided by tourists, Iran is suddenly a hot destination

Tehran

FOR all of Iran's attractions - breathtaking scenery and numerous World Heritage sites, among other things - there are plenty of downsides to vacationing in the Islamic republic. Alcohol is forbidden. There is very little night life, at least in public. All women, including visiting foreigners, are obliged to wear a headscarf.

Then there's Iran's politics: its strident anti-Western stance; seemingly random arrests of people with dual citizenship; hundreds of executions every year; and a rather loose definition of human rights.