What I Hope People Ask Me About Iran
Aryana Mahasseni
When people find out my family is from Iran, they usually have questions. I don’t mind answering them at all. In fact, I wish people asked even more. But instead of asking about politics or the headlines they’ve seen on the news, I wish they asked about the Iran I’ve been lucky enough to know all throughout my years of growing up traveling back and forth.
I’ve been visiting Iran since I was only a few months old. Tehran, the capital, is where my dad grew up and is where much of my family still lives. Some of my favorite memories were made there and when I think of Iran, I don’t think of the news. Instead, my mind returns to crowded bazaars, fresh bread from neighborhood bakeries, beautiful parks, and a culture that has existed for thousands of years.
If you asked me about Iran, these are the questions I’d hope you would ask.
“What is Iran actually like?”
People are often a bit surprised by my depictions of Iran. The country is diverse and mixed with rural areas as well as highly urban cities. My family lives in Tehran, a city of millions that is busy, modern, chaotic, and full of life. Like any major city, there are tall buildings, busy streets, honking, and plenty of traffic. But one distinction that always stands out to me is the amount of parks and green spaces built into Tehran. Parks are everywhere, and in the spring they become especially beautiful with blooming flowers, trees, and families gathering.
And then, there are the cats.
Stray cats are everywhere, and they’re easily one of my favorite parts of visiting Iran. If my family loses me for a minute, they’ve usually found me crouched down petting another cat.
“What is the food like?”
Persian food deserves far more attention than it gets. Most people know about kabobs, but that’s only the beginning. There are rich stews like ghormeh sabzi, fragrant saffron rice, fresh herbs served with almost every meal, and endless cups of Persian tea.
My favorite element of Iran’s gastronomic scene are the bakeries. The smell of fresh bread drifts onto the sidewalk long before you even see the door. Fresh sangak never makes it all the way home. By the time I get there, I’ve already torn off piece after piece on the walk back.
“Where should I go first?”
If I could recommend only one experience, it would be Jomeh Bazaar, the Friday market. It is a staple activity for my family. The market is full of antiques, handmade crafts, old books, jewelry, artwork, carpets, and little treasures you would never expect to find. Every booth has something vastly different. Even if you don’t buy anything, just wandering through the aisles and seeing what catches your eye is part of the fun.
“What makes Iranian hospitality so special?”
One of my favorite parts of visiting Iran is the people. Of course my relatives make me feel at home, but it’s not just family. Complete strangers asked to hold me as a baby, started conversations, or went out of their way to help without expecting anything in return. Especially with my mom, a blonde, blue-eyed American, who is clearly not from Iran, locals welcome her with excess warmth, kindness, and excitement to learn her story. Whether you’re sitting down for tea, visiting someone’s home, or simply asking for help, people genuinely want you to feel welcome. It’s something I have noticed consistently with every visit, and it’s one of the reasons I always look forward to going back.
“What do you love most about Iran?”
I love Iran because of the feeling I get each time I visit.
It’s walking through bazaars with my family. It’s eating warm bread from a neighborhood baker. It’s spending afternoons in Tehran’s parks. It’s ziplining in northern Tehran. It’s gathering for traditional meals. It’s hearing Farsi all around me and feeling connected to a culture that has shaped my family for generations.
The next time you meet someone from Iran, ask them about their favorite food, their favorite city, or the memories that make them smile. You may hear a story about a country that looks very different from the one you’ve imagined. And that’s the version of Iran I hope more people get the chance to know.
Aryana Mahasseni is an ISSD alumnus and a freshman at UCLA
