Having grown up in Iran and spending most of her childhood hiking with her dad, Shirin Shabestari, a London based mother of two, grew a close bond to the beautiful mountains in Iran. Her new role as expedition leader takes Shirin to the Iranian mountains frequently.  In this talk she describes the pivotal role mountaineering has played in her life as a young girl growing up in post-revolutionary Iran and gives an insight into the current climbing scene and the great potential for rock climbing, ice climbing, hiking, and skiing in this most misunderstood country.