Jen,

there are a number of people on the Africa board that have recently been to Iran - if you click on our profiles I think we all have trip reports up (although I still have not finished mine!)
The two others are jsmerkle and julia1. Jennifer (jsmerkle) and I both used Gashtours - Their contact info is in the beginning of my trip report I believe. Nimbus, another poster on here is getting ready to leave for Iran, but I can't recall what company he is using.

I'm not sure if you could get a visa in time, however if you are seriously thinking about it I would email Gashtours or whatever company you want to use immediately. Although I think it would be extremely exciting to be there so soon after the election, spring would just be so much nicer weather wise. I did go to the middle east once in late July though, and I survived! keep us posted!

oh - one of the best books I read last year was "Iran Awakening" by Shirin Ebadi. I couldn't put it down. If you are looking for more books on Iran I highly recommend it.

Hi Jen:

I used LetGoIran and they have so far been wonderful through the planning process, always very responsive to my emails. Like a lot tour agencies, they are the middle men, so to speak, who contract the actual touring out to other providers.

I am leaving the 26th for just one week there. I am staying in Turkey for a couple days as well.

I have to warn you that it will take some time to get a visa -took me 45 days. The tour agency you use will handle the visa application process, being american it is a much more involved process. Once the authroization number is issued, your agent will tell you the number. You will have to send or hand deliver your passport to the Iranian interests section of the Paki embassy in DC. I used a service to handle all this for me and it worked well. All of this assumes that you are american.

In view of the problems in Iran post election, I'd check with Tour Operators etc for guidance before I'd want to go at this time.