Alone in Iran - What was I thinking?

I have never had people express so many opinions about my travels as when I decided to backpack through Iran solo as a woman for two weeks. Everyone seemed to have something to say about it, with responses ranging from “That is amazing, I would totally join you if I didn’t have a U.S. passport,” to “You’re going there alone? What sort of death wish do you have?” and the blunt words of my extremely well-traveled great uncle, “Iran is not a nice pla…