Visited Bank Melli in Dubia to obtain Iranian currency - they confirmed that neither credit cards nor travellers cheques would be honoured in Iran - the banks do not change currency or issue Iranian travellers' cheques and referred me to money changers nearby that did. 

Bought Iranian travellers' cheques and cashed some $US travellers cheques.  The travellers' cheques are bank issued bearer cheques and are not payable to order.  Checked with bank - that is how it is done; do not issue anything else.  You have to take cash or bearer travellers' cheques with you to Iran.  And if you are a tourist you cannot open a bank account when you get there. 

Bought laptop computer in Dubai and caught Aseman Iran flight to Banda Abbas.  Only one other non-resident on plane and had no trouble upon embarcation.  The brother of Hossein Abassi, the  passenger I was sitting next to on the flight, kindly gave me a lift to my hotel.  The Lonel Plant Guide's comments about my hotel are not very accurate.

Went for an orientation walk.  Sarja and Abbas helped me purchase a phone card and an internatonal phone card - the only draw back is my expectation that the phone number I have to call to use the latter will be answered in Farsi.  They are trainee engineers - their company has bought one of the best hotels in town and they all reside there.