James Moore interviews Yashar Vasef on Planet Erstwild.

Yashar was born in Tehran after the Islamic revolution. During the infamous 1988 'war of the cities' (Baghdad/Tehran) in which Tehran was bombarded by Russian and American missiles supplied to Iraq, his parents fled Iran in hopes of a brighter future for their children. So they ended up in Istanbul, Turkey as refugees of war and about two years later received asylum in the United States of America.

They moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles, most recently settling in Iowa City, where Yashar attended high school and the university. He studied Political Science and International Studies (w/ emphasis on Islamic studies) at the University of Iowa. He's been holding events with the Persian Student Organization on campus to break down cultural barriers between Iran and the United States. He recently embarked on a trip to Iran by himself, his first trip back 'home' since leaving as a child. James speaks with him at length about his impressions and experiences.

[Click on pictues to go to link of Yashar's photos and comments of his Tehran trip]