I wasn't comparing Lebanon (not the Lebanon which refers to the mountain range) with Iran. I have been to both and realise they are completely different - however, I was recounting an experience where I was hijacked in a car on the way to the airport at gun point. The last whereabouts of David was in a taxi to the airport. I was noting the similarities. Throughout my work and travels to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iran and the UAE, Westerners, certainly in the late 80s and 90s had to be fairly cautious in their travels.

I know from my Iranian friends that Iran has had its fair share of problems with crime. A lot of people travelled armed and there wasn't zero crime. Murders, hijacking and robberies still occurred in Iran.

Lebanon has felt to me, and many of my friends and expat colleagues as being the safest and most liberal country we spend time in. Lebanon is very westernised. Ironically it is the Iranian sponsored Hezbollah who have caused Lebanese so many problems in recent years