I would like to visit Iran as a tourist but I'd also like to visit the USA some time after. I know the relations between the two countries are bad.
Is it likely that I'm not allowed to enter the USA after having been to Iran?
If it matters, I've never been to either of those countries. I'm a Swiss citizen, an atheist from a Christian background.
The main consequence of having visited Iran before going to the U.S. is that you are no longer eligible to travel on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
If you have travelled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, you will need to follow the regular process and apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
While not being able to travel on the VWP is a hassle, it is likely the only consequence. That you would not be able to visit the U.S. after Iran is improbable (given, of course, that there are no aggravating circumstances).
Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html
See also this answer by Zach Lipton:
Therefore, there is nothing that would prohibit you from coming to the US. It is, of course, possible that you could receive extra questioning at immigration, and if you're seen as a security risk, you won't be admitted. That's always true whether or not you've visited Iran though. A visa is never a guarantee of admission.
From I have a valid visa for the USA. I have visited Iran since it was issued. Can I still enter the US?
See also How long does the US Visa Waiver ban for people who travelled to Iran last?.
I was in Iran in 2012, and in USA this summer(July, 2017).
First of all, my ESTA was denied(I'm an EU citizen). I had to show up at the US embassy of my country and pay a $200 fee for visa processing. It was accepted, but it doesn't really end there.
Landing at JFK, I was taken by homeland security to a room with a bunch of other people. They took my luggage and I had to stay for almost two hours(nearly missing my connecting flight to LAX!) with no explanation. No phones allowed, no bathroom breaks allowed, no communication from them at all. Extremely uncomfortable. The authorities were very rude in the process and offered no insight as to why I was held back. When engaging them constructively asking of a time horizon, I was told to shut up and sit down. Pretty much prison conditions.
Eventually, they just gave me a passport and grunted at me, and I had to basically sprint all across JFK to catch my flight.
So it doesn't close the door as to going to USA. However, you should consider if it's really worth it, because likely you'll receive the same treatment as above.
This is coming from a nordic looking male with a Scandinavian passport
My daughter visited Iran (pure tourism) in 2013, and has been waiting 18 months without any news. She was interviewed by the USA Embassy in London. My daughter is a UK citizen.
