PRESS RELEASE:

Rick Steves, recently back from Iran, calls it "the most poorly understood yet fascinating land" he's ever visited. In his upcoming travel special, premiering exclusively in Utah on KUED-Channel 7 Thursday, January 29, at 7 p.m., Steves takes viewers on a journey of discovery. His hope? To learn more about this perplexing nation whose government so exasperates America, and to better understand the 70 million people who call Iran home.

This 60-minute travel special, available in high-definition, shows the glorious monuments of Iran's rich past, as well as Iranian life today -- in its giant metropolis, historic capital, work-a-day towns, and a countryside village. KUED will present a free preview screening followed by a panel discussion with members of Salt Lake’s Iranian community on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. in The City Library Auditorium.

Steves captures Persian culture: from Friday prayer in a mosque to the nonconformist teen fashions at the mall; from anti-American murals to the hospitality of a family dinner; and from the tranquility of rural life to the crazy traffic of modern Tehran.

Rather than a political documentary dealing with the complex issues that confront our governments, Rick Steves' Iran is a travelogue designed to increase our understanding of an ancient nation that has been a leader in its corner of the world for 2,500 years.

Steves says, "After 30 years of world travel, I've learned that the best way to understand an unfamiliar culture is to visit and meet its people. My impressions were striking: the intensity of the streets of Tehran, the crowds of women covered head-to-toe in chadors, and the overwhelming friendliness of the people. I was awed by the domed mosques, saddened by the conformity of the university, energized by the youthfulness of the population, and impressed by the dramatic ancient sites."

Enjoying ice cream with religious leaders, marveling at the popularity of nose jobs for women, and witnessing the sorrow that blankets martyrs' cemeteries, Steves and his crew provide a glimpse of Iran never before shown on American television. Steves believes that, while there are no easy solutions to the problems confronting our two countries, surely getting to know more about this culture is a step in the right direction.

Steves is available for a select number of interviews to discuss this new project and his experience inside Iran. To learn more, visit www.ricksteves.com/iran. To request an interview or a review tape, please contact Ashley Sytsma, Publicist, at ashley@ricksteves.com or 425/608-4293.

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