Russian Ambassador in Tehran: Mandatory Hijab and Alcohol Prohibition Are Main Obstacles to Russian Citizens Traveling to Iran

The Russian ambassador in Tehran says that mandatory hijab and the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in Iran are two major obstacles to Russian citizens traveling to the country.

Lovan Jagarian in an interview with the newspaper Izvestia, published in Moscow, praised Iran’s tourist attractions and tourist areas but acknowledged that Russian citizens prefer traveling to Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and other countries.

He stated: “I have repeatedly and frankly told Iranians that two major issues prevent Russian citizens and not just tourists from entering Iran. One is the issue of women’s dress code, which today requires hijab even in hot weather everywhere in this country, and the other is that alcoholic beverages are prohibited.”

According to him, Russian citizens when traveling to other countries “do not face these problems” and although “Iran has many attractions, [such as] Pasargadae, Shiraz and Isfahan,” but “large numbers of Russian tourists have never come to Iran.”

Mr. Jagarian at the end of his remarks expressed hope that Russian tourists “will not travel to countries unfriendly to Russia and will not spend currency there, [but rather] do this exclusively in countries friendly to Russia.”

Source: Radio Farda