Donta' Broussard has never been one to shy away from the unfamiliar. The solo traveler, who goes by @thebeardedbackpacker on TikTok and Instagram, has journeyed through Middle Eastern countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Libya. Then Iran piqued his interest. “I wanted to see it for myself — to meet the people, feel the culture, understand the history," the Louisiana native, 33, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I wanted my own opinion.” So, while traveling through Amman, Jordan, Broussard booked a one-way ticket to Tehran, the capital of Iran — alone. According to the State Department, "Violent extremist groups, including U.S. government-designated terrorist organizations, operate in Iran." These groups, including ISIS, have claimed responsibility for bombings and acts of terrorism. As the departure date neared, however, his nerves began to catch up with his ambition. A few months earlier, he had watched Argo — Ben Affleck's Oscar-winning thriller about the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis — and the film left a lasting impression. “You hear these stories, people getting detained, accused of espionage,” he says. “So I thought that that could possibly happen to me as well. And again, it was my first time going there. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how I would be received as an American. I knew nothing, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into." His friends and family didn’t make it easier. Many urged him to reconsider. The U.S. State Department also recommends that Americans avoid the nation, warning on its website, "Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens, and wrongful detention." Still, Broussard pushed ahead. “They were like, ‘Why don’t you go somewhere else? Are you sure you want to go there? This is not the right time to go. Why don’t you just wait?’ ” he recalls. “And I’m like, wait for what? Something could happen.” Still, Broussard pushed ahead. Although he faced complications getting his visa, on May 29, he finally stepped foot in Iran. Despite the tense political climate and his own anxieties, he discovered a country rich with history and filled with people who left a deep impression on him. During his entire seven-day trip, he was never without his guide, Ali. The Iranian government had to approve his itinerary, which meant he couldn’t explore freely. “They literally can’t leave you,” he explains. “It’s because there’s no direct relationship between our governments. So if something happened — if I tried to run away — they’d be responsible.” Just weeks later, Iran would dominate global headlines. On June 13, Israel bombed Tehran and other areas in Iran. The U.S launched extensive airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure eight days later. On Monday, June 23, Iran retaliated for the recent U.S. military strikes, launching a missile strike against a military base in Qatar. With tensions rising, Broussard is now sharing his journey on social media, sharing his personal experience visiting the country. “Iran was really new for me, but I still felt pretty comfortable,” he says. “Also, I had my [guide] with me. He wouldn’t let anything happen to me at all. But outside of that, I didn’t feel like I would get robbed. I didn’t feel like people were looking at me weird or trying to target me or anything. I didn’t get that feeling at all. I felt completely safe the entire time I was there." “The people went out of their way to welcome me, to make me feel at home,” he adds. “They shared stories about their families and their history. They invited me into their homes, cooked for me — it was just incredible.” Looking back, Broussard remembers his arrival at the airport as anything but straightforward. Going through immigration, it wasn’t overwhelming, but it definitely wasn’t simple. He was questioned extensively. “My passport was passed around and scanned multiple times," he says. "They had to call in extra people and speak with my guide.” After finally leaving the airport late at night, he was surprised by how many people were still out and about. As they drove into the city, he began to grasp the scale of Tehran. “You could see it stretching out in every direction — thousands and thousands of homes,” he says. “In my narrow mind, I pictured Tehran as a small, limited city, but seeing it in real life, I realized it’s actually enormous.” Later that night, while wandering through a market, Broussard got his first real impression of the people and their curiosity. “When they heard me speaking English, they would literally turn around and ask, ‘What are you doing? Where are you from?’ When I told them I was from America, they responded warmly: ‘Oh my God, love America. Love America. Love America. Welcome to your second home.’ ” One moment especially stuck with him. While vlogging and browsing fruit with his guide, a young man approached and introduced himself. “He said, ‘Hello,’ but I was facing the other way, so I just said, ‘Hello?’ Then I turned my camera toward him, and we started talking,” Broussard recalls. “He told me he learned English from YouTube.” “I was blown away,” he says. “I told him, ‘Dude, you speak better English than me. I have to give it to you — you should teach me English!’ Honestly, that was one of the best first impressions I had of Iran. I had only been there about an hour, and something like that happened.” “That moment stuck with me,” he adds. “The guy was so charismatic and genuinely excited to speak English with a native speaker. It was fascinating that he taught himself to speak so eloquently just by watching YouTube.” He toured the Golestan Palace, the former royal residence of the Shahs, where he witnessed the grand side of the Persian Empire. The chandeliers, walls, and ceilings looked, to him, like they were coated in diamonds. He met artisans crafting intricate Persian handicrafts and poetry-inspired art, explored Persepolis — the ancient ceremonial capital — saw Darius the Great’s burial site, wandered through bustling markets and immersed himself in local culture and cuisine. "Once you leave Tehran, there are a lot of checkpoints going into other cities," he says. "There’s not a whole lot compared to other places I’ve been, like Afghanistan. But there are checkpoints leading out of the city and also leading into the city." Despite the visible security presence, nothing felt alarming. "There was really no remnants of the revolution [in 1979]," he adds. "The buildings — there are a lot of modern ones, expensive high-rises — but there’s also a mix of older buildings, many from the 70s. So you get this sense of modern Tehran, but it’s also very much stuck in the 70s." During his visit, political tensions in the region were rising, and he was acutely aware of it. Having previously had trips canceled due to unrest, he knew how quickly things could shift. “I wouldn't say that you could sense it,” he notes. “I think for me, I could sense it because I kind of knew what was really happening." Still, daily life carried on. He saw kids playing soccer, couples on dates, families shopping — people just living. "There was no moment that made me feel like I needed to leave or wanted to leave," he says. "Actually, it was the opposite. I regretted not extending my trip longer and booking a longer tour. That was the biggest regret." “Every historical site that we saw, I just wanted more of that. Every person I met that invited me into their home, I wanted more of that, the good food, the saffron rice, I wanted more of that. So I didn't want to leave.” Before tensions escalated, he had even planned to return. “I don't know how that looks in the future, but we'll see,” he says. On June 4, Broussard departed Iran for Egypt before heading home to Houston, Texas. Leaving was stressful. Security was more intense, and language barriers made it harder. “Many of them didn’t speak English, so I was also confused as to what was happening," he says. "All I see is my passport going from this person… then they’re calling in some sergeant, and he’s coming. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening?’ ” “I think it’s just a part of their process to ensure that everything is legit and people are safe.” Since being home, Broussard has watched the situation in Iran unfold — and it’s been deeply emotional. One of the people most affected is his guide, Ali, with whom he’s remained in close contact. Just as the conflict erupted, Ali had taken on a British couple for a tour and suddenly found himself responsible not only for their safety, but for his own. Thankfully, he was able to coordinate an overland crossing into Turkey, personally driving the couple through areas where bombing was actively taking place to get them safely to the border, according to Broussard. “I was on edge just making sure that he was fine,” Broussard says. “But it’s really impacted him. It’s impacted his business because, of course, there’s no tourism. No one knows when they’ll return to allowing foreigners in — if that even happens again. So it’s affected him financially, but also mentally. Just seeing the bombs, hearing the bombs in your city, seeing your neighborhood bombed — it’s taken a toll on him emotionally." The weight of it all hit Broussard, too. "I was very saddened for the people that were involved in this because no one wins in these types of situations," he adds. "I was very confused as to how we also got here, and I just felt so guilty at the same time, because I literally was there just having the time of my life with these people, and now I'm here in America, comfortable, and these people are actually having to deal with this — and people are losing their lives." “It just felt so unfair to me," he continues. Along with Ali, Broussard has stayed in contact with many of the friends he made during his time in Iran — not just to check on their well-being, but to support them financially as well. He says the situation has devastated local businesses, leaving many people unable to work. Now, he hopes that by continuing to share stories and content from his trip, he can help shift global perspectives. “I play the middleman," he says. "I have a really unique role and opportunity when I visit these places. My role is to essentially take what I saw and convey it to the rest of the world. And that's how I bridge these gaps. And I connect people from around the world through these videos, and that is the role that I play." "It's not about me, it's about these people," he adds. "It's about their stories... That is the role that I play when it comes to creating content — just bridging these gaps from people across the world.”