I'll never forget my first trip overseas to Tehran, Iran.

In case you were wondering, the cover photo for this article is indeed a photograph that was taken in the "horrific" country we've come to know as Iran (the tower in the picture is referred to as the Milad Tower).

How can a place that's constantly bombarded with bombs look so beautiful you may ask? Because this region hasn't specifically been threatened by terrorists for a long time. It's sad how misled people who haven't traveled can be.

I was 18 years old when my dad decided to take me to Tehran so I can meet family and friends I've never met as well as visit my grandmother whom I hadn't seen since I was a child. When I started telling people I was headed for Iran the majority stated things like "be careful of bomb droppings!!!" and "watch out for terrorists!"

Some joked about my trip, but most were genuinely concerned that I could potentially die at the hands of terrorists. However, it's not terrorists that I feared, but the government itself (more on that later).

I can understand why people were on edge for my safe return, after all, Iran is in the Middle East and that region includes some of the most dangerous cities in the world.

What people should acknowledge is that most countries aren't completely dangerous. It's specific areas within countries that are potentially life-threatening.

I reassured my friends that I'd be safe because Tehran wasn't threatened by terrorism—although I can't say the same for today with the unpredictable attacks that have ensued. Side note: the city of Tehran has soldiers standing guard on every block so I felt safe knowing that if an attack occurred there were armed soldiers directly outside my building.

Now, let's talk government. As many probably know, Iran, like most Middle Eastern places, is oppressive toward women. By law, women in Iran must cover their head with a hijab (head scarf) and completely conceal their arms and legs at all times—even in hot weather—when out in public.

One time without realizing my hijab slipped off my head while my dad and I were purse shopping and the cashier stared at me in horror then proceeded to tell my dad, "She must keep her head covered at all times." You can imagine the terrified look on my dad's face when he took notice of me. What a story that would've been, getting arrested when my hijab accidentally revealed my hair.

You read that right: women are arrested for not following the country's dress code. What's worse is I'm American, and the Iranian government doesn't take offences committed by Persian Americans lightly.

Another law my dad informed me of is that public transportation requires women to be placed in the back of the bus while men stay at the front. Remind you of anything? (Perhaps that era in American history that consisted with black and white segregation). I fear for the lives of the Rosa Parks of Iran because the Iranian system far exceeds the prison system in America, I'm sure.

These are just a couple examples of the inequalities Iranian women must endure on a day-to-day basis. Just imagine the harsher inequalities in other regions of the Middle East (women in Saudi Arabia can't drive for example).

Although I don't agree with the government's Islamic laws, that doesn't take away from the beauty Iran has to offer. When the relationship between the United States and Iran is—hopefully—whole again then I recommend all to go visit the Northern region of Iran: