Tour operators were informed through the Iran Interests Section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington that the government of Iran has gone forward with its threat to invoke reciprocity in response to President Trump's executive order to ban Iranians from entering the U.S. No new visas are being issued to Americans by the Iranian government.
The Iranian policy is not retroactive. Americans who already have visas to enter Iran will be permitted entry, but no new visas will be issued. The policy will stay in place as long as the U.S. government ban on Iranians entering the U.S. remains in place. The U.S. policy was put in place for a 90-day period.
Tour operators who are offering tours to Iran are adjusting their plans. Americans who already have visas will be able to go forward with their trips. Those who have not already obtained visas will have to wait to see how it all plays out.
Bob Drumm, president of Alexander + Roberts, told TravelPulse that the company's March 3 departure will go ahead. All participants for that trip already have visas in hand. The company's April 14 departure, however, has been canceled. The Sept. 1 departure is still set to go forward if travel bans have expired by that time.
"We are hopeful the ban will end and tourism services can proceed," Drumm said.
Wilderness Travel informed TravelPulse that it is canceling its April and May departures. After that, the company will have to wait to see what might happen with its next scheduled departure in the fall.
The company issued a statement saying, "The increase of interest in travel to Iran had been a wonderful development. Cultural exchange and understanding is the foundation for a peaceful world. We hope that this unfortunate situation will be resolved, and look forward to an end to the travel restrictions on both sides."
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