CONWAY — It isn’t easy to get into Iran.
“You need to be invited,” said Tom Bowker, a 55-year-old local climber who just got back. “You actually need an invitation from somebody.”
kAmw6 8@E @?6] p?5 @?46 96 8@E E96C6 :E H2D ?@E9:?8 =:<6 96 6IA64E65]k^Am
kAm“%96 >@DE 8C24:@FD A6@A=6 x 92G6 6G6C >6E[” 96 D2:5[ D>:=:?8]k^Am
kAmq@H<6C’D EC:A H2D 2? 244:56?E] “yFDE =F4<[” 96 D2:5[ 3FE ?@H 96’D :E49:?8 E@ 8@ 324<] “x’G6 8@E F?7:?:D965 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am
kAmY Y Yk^Am
kAmq@H<6C’D ;@FC?6J 3682? 2 J62C 28@[ =@?8 367@C6 E96 p=3@CK |@F?E2:?D H6C6 @? 9:D 9@C:K@?] %96 >@F?E2:? C2?86 96 H2D =@@<:?8 E@ E96? H6C6 E96 %6E@?D[ :? H6DE6C? (J@>:?8] p ?@?\AC@7:E 8C@FA E92E DFAA@CED >@F?E2:?66C:?8[ E96 p>6C:42? p=A:?6 r=F3[ 925 AFE @FE 2 ?@E:46 23@FE 2 4=:>36C 6I492?86[ H:E9 xC2?:2? >@F?E2:?66CD] }:?6 xC2?:2?D H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 :? (J@>:?8 7@C D6G6C2= H66<D :? $6AE6>36C[ 4=:>3:?8 H:E9 p>6C:42? A2CE?6CD :? vC2?5 %6E@? }2E:@?2= !2C<]k^Am
kAm“p== x H2?E65 E@ 36 H2D 2 9@DE 4=:>36C[” q@H<6C D2:5[ 3FE 96 7:==65 @FE E96 7F== 2AA=:42E:@?[ H9:49 :?4=F565 E96 D64E:@? 7@C 8@:?8 E@ xC2? 2D H6==] w6 4@?E24E65 E96 56AFEJ EC:A =6256C[ H9@ H@C<65 :? xC2? AC:@C E@ E96 `hfh C6G@=FE:@?] $@@? 96 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 :? E96 D925@H @7 vC2?5 %6E@?[ 2E E96 ppr’D r=:>36C’D #2?49[ A2CE?6C65 H:E9 E96 7:CDE xC2?:2? E@ DF>>:E }2?82 !2C32E[ @?6 @7 E96 H@C=5’D `c g[___\>6E6C A62<D]k^Am
kAmw@DE:?8 E96 xC2?:2?D H2D 8C62E[ 96 D2:5[ 2== E96 4F=EFC2= 6IA6C:6?46 2D 96 925 9@A65 7@C] w6 >256 4=@D6 7C:6?5D[ 2?5 E96 xC2?:2?D =67E =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ 9@DE:?8 E96 p>6C:42?D]k^Am
kAmq@H<6C H2D?’E D4965F=65 E@ 36 2>@?8 E96> — E96 EC:A H2D =2C86=J AC@76DD:@?2= 4=:>36CD 2?5 q@H<6C 4=:>3D 7@C 7F? @?=J — 3FE E9:?8D H6C6 23@FE E@ 8@ 9:D H2J] “%H@ H66<D 27E6C E96J =67E x 8@E 2 42== 7C@> y:> s@?:?:[” 2 4=:>36C C6?@H? 7@C 9:D 4=:>3D :? p=2D<2 2?5 !2E28@?:2[ “2D<:?8 :7 x H2?E65 E@ 8@ E@ xC2?]”k^Am
kAmp?@E96C }6H w2>AD9:C6\32D65 4=:>36C 5C@AA65 @FE[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D 2 D=@E E@ 7:==]k^Am
kAm“%96J 7:==65 :E H:E9 >6[” q@H<6C D2:5] %96 xC2?:2? 2=A:?6 4=F3 6IE6?565 2? :?G:E2E:@?] “p== x ?66565 H2D 2 A=2?6 E:4<6E]”k^Am
kAmY Y Yk^Am
kAmq@H<6C 2?5 `` @E96C p>6C:42? 4=:>36CD 4@?G6C865 @? uC2?<7FCE[ v6C>2?J[ :? 62C=J yF?6[ E96 =2DE DE@A 367@C6 %69C2?]k^Am
kAmq@2C5:?8 E96 ;6E[ 96 D2:5[ “H6 DE@@5 @FE =:<6 D@C6 E9F>3D]” %96 @?=J H6DE6C?6CD 962565 E@ %69C2?] #:89E 2H2J E96 xC2?:2?D 3682? 492EE:?8 H:E9 E96>[ 2D<:?8 H96C6 E96J H6C6 8@:?8 2?5 H92E E96J H6C6 5@:?8] #:89E 2H2J[ 96 D2:5[ xC2?:2? 9@DA:E2=:EJ H2D @? 5:DA=2J]k^Am
kAmp?5 2D E96 A=2?6 56D46?565 E@H2C5 E96 42A:E2=[ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 H6?E @? 5:DA=2J]k^Am
kAm“%6? >:?FE6D 367@C6 =2?5:?8 2== E96 xD=2>:4 C6BF:D:E6D DE2CE65 4@>:?8 @FE[” q@H<6C D2:5i (@>6? AF==65 @? 9625\D42CG6D[ >6? 492?865 @FE @7 E96:C 3FD:?6DD DF:ED] %96 H6DE6C?:K65 xC2?:2?D E96 8C@FA 3@2C565 H:E9 H6C6 ?@H96C6 E@ 36 D66? 2D E96J AF==65 FA E@ E96 82E6 2E x>2> z9@>6:?: x?E6C?2E:@?2= p:CA@CE]k^Am
kAmqFE 2D E96:C ?6H 7C:6?5D H6C6 492?8:?8 4=@E96D[ E96 E62> H2D =@@<:?8 6=D6H96C6]k^Am
kAm“*@F 42? D66 E96 >@F?E2:?D 7C@> %69C2?[” q@H<6C D2:5] %96 4:EJ :D ?6DE=65 2>@?8 E96>[ 2?5 E96 ?@CE96C? 6?5 :D b[___ 766E 9:896C E92? E96 D@FE9] “*@F D66 >@F?E2:?D 6G6CJH96C6]”k^Am
kAm%96 `a p>6C:42? 56=682E6D H6C6 8@:?8 E@ DA=:E :?E@ EH@ :E:?6C2C:6D] ~?6 8C@FA H@F=5 G:D:E E96 a[d__\7@@E G6CE:42= ?@CE9 7246 @7 p=2> zF9[ 2 H@C=5\4=2DD 2=A:?6 C@4< H2==] %96 @E96C 8C@FA H@F=5 4=:>3 E96 `g[cca\7@@E |@F?E s2>2G2?5[ E96 9:896DE A62< :? E96 |:55=6 t2DE]k^Am
kAm%96J DA6?E 2 ?:89E :? %69C2? 367@C6 E96 8C@FA DA=:E] q@H<6C 49@D6 E96 s2>2G2?5 :E:?6C2CJ[ H9:49 E@@< 2 D>2==6C 8C@FA E9C@F89 >@C6 G:==286D]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E65 E@ 8@ 7@C E96 7F== 4F=EFC2= D9@4<[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE 6G6? 2D q@H<6C AC6A2C65 E@ >66E xC2?:2?D[ E96 8C@FA’D 6I:E 7C@> %69C2? 82G6 9:?ED 23@FE E96 8@G6C?:?8 C68:>6 E92E @G6CD66D E96>]k^Am
kAm“%96 >66E:?8 DA@E H2D C:89E :? 7C@?E @7 2 >:=:E2CJ 32D6]” %96 8C@FA H2D D?2AA:?8 G242E:@? A9@E@D[ H9:49 :>>65:2E6=J D6E @77 2=2C>D 7@C E96 xC2?:2?D] p? @77:46C 7C@> E96 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5[ E96 xC2?:2? D64C6E A@=:46[ 42>6 @FE[ E@=5 E96> E@ DE@A[ 2?5 E96? 56E2:?65 2?5 BF6DE:@?65 E96> 7@C E9C66 9@FCD 2D E96:C 9@DED EC:65 E@ 6IA=2:? H92E H2D 8@:?8 @?]k^Am
kAm%96 @77:46C 5:D2AA62C65[ 2?5 E96:C 9@DED 2AA62C65 ?6CG@FD]k^Am
kAmw6 42>6 324< @FE 2? 9@FC =2E6C[ 9@=5:?8 2 7C2>65[ 8:7E\HC2AA65 4@AJ @7 E96 D64@?5 G6CD6 @7 E96 z@C2?]k^Am
kAm“(6 24EF2==J C646:G65 2 8:7E 7C@> E96 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ vF2C5[” q@H<6C D2:5] “%92E <:?5 @7 D6E E96 E@?6]”k^Am
kAmxE DF>>65 FA 7@C q@H<6C E96 2C3:EC2CJ ?2EFC6 @7 E96 xC2?:2? C68:>6i “(6 4@F=5 92G6 2== 366? ;@:?:?8 E96 EH@ p>6C:42?D” H9@ 92G6 366? :? ;2:= :? xC2? 7@C ?62C=J EH@ J62CD] “x?DE625 H6 8@E 2 8:7E]”k^Am
kAmuC@> %69C2?[ E96 8C@FAD DA=:E 2?5 962565 E@H2C5 E96:C >@F?E2:? 8@2=D] q@H<6C’D 8C@FA D6E @77 7@C s2>2G2?5[ H96C6 E96 8C@FA >6>36CD DA6?E EH@ ?:89ED :? 2 D@=2C\A@H6C65 2=A:?6 9FE H:E9 >2C3=6 7=@@CD 3F:=E 3J E96 xC2?:2? |@F?E2:?66C:?8 u656C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96 5C:G:?8 2=>@DE 86ED J@F E96C6 E@@ BF:4<[” q@H<6C D2:5] p7E6C >@?E9D 2E D62 =6G6= E96 2=E:EF56 E@@< :ED E@== @? 9:>] %96 9FE H2D 9:896C E92? E96 vC2?5 %6E@?[ E96 9:896DE 96’5 6G6C 366? 367@C6[ D@ D=66A:?8 H2D 2?JE9:?8 3FE C6DE7F=] “qJ >@C?:?8 x H2D E@E2==J @FE @7 :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ 96 H2D 56E6C>:?65 E@ ECJ 7@C E96 DF>>:E] %96 H:?5 H2D 3=@H:?8 D?@H @FED:56] “xE 5:5?’E E2<6 >F49 E@ EFC? >6 2C@F?5]”k^Am
kAm~?=J EH@ >6>36CD @7 9:D E62> DF>>:E65[ 3FE 6G6CJ@?6 8@E E96 4F=EFC2= 6IA6C:6?46 @7 A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 =@42= 4=:>36CD[ “32D:42==J 36:?8 8F:565” ;FDE =:<6 E96 xC2?:2?D 925 366? :? (J@>:?8]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96C6 E96 8C@FA H6?E E@ tD7292?[ xC2?’D E9:C5 =2C86DE 4:EJ 2?5 2 &}t$r~ H@C=5 96C:E286 D:E6 C6?@H? 7@C :ED xD=2>:4 2C49:E64EFC6]k^Am
kAm“xE 3=6H >6 2H2J[” q@H<6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 D?2AA65 A9@E@D @7 E96 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 492EE65 H:E9 =@42=D[ @442D:@?2==J CF??:?8 :?E@ @E96C H6DE6C?6CD[ >@DE=J qC:ED 2?5 v6C>2?D]k^Am
kAm%96 xC2?:2?D H6C6 2=H2JD <:?5[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 >2?J @7 E96> H6C6 7=F6?E :? t?8=:D9] %9@D6 H9@ 4@F=5?’E DA62< H:E9 9:> @776C65 “2 92?5 24C@DD E96 962CE[ 2 3@H 2?5 2 =:EE=6 D>:=6]”k^Am
kAm%96:C H2C>E9 H2D 6?42ADF=2E65 3J 2 E62 D9@A @H?6C H9@ 925 366? :? 3FD:?6DD 7@C ba J62CD] “(6 H6C6 E96 7:CDE p>6C:42?D 6G6C :? 9:D E62 9@FD6[” q@H<6C D2:5] %96J H6C6 EC62E65 =:<6 9@?@C65 8F6DED]k^Am
kAmxC2? :D 2 >@56C? 4@F?ECJ[ 96 D2:5] “u@C E96 >@DE A2CE E96J’C6 5C:G:?8 ?:46 42CD 2?5 92G6 46== A9@?6D 2?5 (:\u:]” $2E6==:E6 5:D96D 5@E C@@7E@AD[ A:A:?8 :? 7@C6:8? E6=6G:D:@? 492??6=D] |2?J xC2?:2?D 2C6 72>:=:2C H:E9 p>6C:42? A@=:E:4D[ 96 D2:5 “>2J36 6G6? >@C6 D@ E92? p>6C:42?D[” 2?5 @? 3@E9 EC:AD 96 5:D4FDD65 A@=:E:4D 2?5 A@=:4J H:E9 9:D 4=:>3:?8 A2CE?6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 A6@A=6 @C xC2? 2C6 ;FDE =:<6 p>6C:42?D[ q@H<6C D2:5] “%96J 42C6 23@FE E96:C 6?G:C@?>6?E] %96J 42C6 23@FE E96:C <:5D’ 7FEFC6]”k^Am
kAm“xE’D ;FDE E96 @AA@D:E6 @7 H92E’D 366? A@CEC2J65 :? E96 >65:2[” 96 D2:5[ H96C6 E96J D9@H A6@A=6 AC@E6DE:?8 p>6C:42 2?5 3FC?:?8 &]$] 7=28D]k^Am
kAm%96 xC2?:2? 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 :ED 6IEC6>:DE AC6D:56?E 2C6?’E E96 xC2?:2? A6@A=6[ 96 D2:5[ H9@ 2C6 H@?56C7F= 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 56>@?:K65]k^Am
kAmw6 H2?ED E@ 8@ 324<[ E@ 86E E@ E96 E@A @7 |@F?E s2>2G2?5[ E@ 86E 324< 2>@?8 E96 A6@A=6 2?5 E@ 6IA=@C6 E96 @E96C 4=:>3:?8 2C62D]k^Am
kAmxC2? D9@F=5 36 :? E96 E@A `_ 4=:>3:?8 56DE:?2E:@?D[ 96 D2:5[ 3@E9 7@C 4=:>3:?8 2?5 7@C EC2G6=:?8] “x?DE625 E96J 32C6=J C2?< `__E9]”k^Am
kAmqFE :7 96 42? 86E 2?@E96C :?G:E2E:@? 96’== 36 2E ?@ =24< @7 A=246D E@ DE2J]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 8@E D@>6 ?6H u2463@@< 7C:6?5D[” 96 D2:5[ D>:=:?8 282:?]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.