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A jumble of contradictions and myths informs the Western view of Iran,
from fear of Islam, to sympathy for the Iranians, to the desire for oil
and gas, and fascination with the story of One Thousand and One Nights.
Twenty-three years after the Islamic Revolution, the view through the
veil continues to obscure our vision of the country. Meanwhile, the
country is changing, though the path forward is fraught with tension
between reformers and religious conservatives. In public, a modernizing
Iran can be seen in trendy restaurants, in fashion and between young
lovers walking hand in hand through the streets. In private, criticism
is often expressed about the regime, and nostalgia for secularism and
contact with the West is apparent. From Tehran to the Persian Gulf, the
modern face Iran is evolving, though the veil of repression has yet to
disappear.
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