Iran Travel Safety

General safety

Carry identification with you at all times. Leave a photocopy of your travel documents with a relative or a friend at home.

Precautions

Do not show signs of affluence. Ensure personal belongings, passports and travel documents are secure, and carry a photocopy of your passports identification page at all times. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are often targeted by thieves. Watch for fraudulent plainclothes police officers, who may ask to see foreign currency and passports. If you are approached, politely decline to cooperate but offer to go to the nearest police station.

Road safety

Hire cars with a driver familiar with local conditions as driving standards are poor. Hire only official taxis from agencies or hotel-based companies, and always pre-negotiate the fare. Most taxis do not have meters, and foreigners are often overcharged. Driving at night can be dangerous. The streets are poorly lit and some motorists drive without using headlights. Motorists regularly ignore traffic lights, traffic signs and lane markers, and almost never yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. Road conditions are good in cities, and the highway system is relatively well developed. In the event of a car accident, remain at the scene until authorities have made an official report. Sidewalks on main roads in urban areas may be obstructed by cars. Sidewalks are rare in residential areas.

Regional travel

Foreigners have been denied entry into Iran because their passports bore an Israeli visa, an Israeli border stamp or an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel, which would indicate the traveller entered from Israel.

Rail transportation

Trains are comfortable and punctual, but service is limited and slow.

Marine transportation

Exercise caution if travelling by sea, including for recreational purposes, in the Persian Gulf, particularly around the disputed islands of Abu Musa and Tunbs. Iran and the United Arab Emirates both claim sovereignty over the islands and the waters are patrolled by the military. Foreigners navigating Iranian waters have been arrested and detained.

Women's safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. In addition, don't flash money or valuables in public. Doing so may make you a potential victim of criminal activity.

Crime

Violent crime affects both Iranians and foreigners. Petty theft, such as purse snatching and burglary, occurs.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism. Attacks have targeted foreign interests, Iranian government establishments, military parades and religious sites and events. Maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times because the security situation could deteriorate rapidly and without notice.

Religion

Iran customs, laws and regulations adhere closely to Islamic practices and beliefs. Exercise common sense and discretion in dress and behaviour. Dress conservatively - for women: knee-length or longer dresses and long sleeves are preferable, women should avoid clothing that could be construed as revealing, such as miniskirts, shorts and sleeveless or low-cut (front or back) blouses and tops, men: should not wear shorts outside tourist areas. Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. Overt public displays of intimate affection are frowned upon in Irani culture. During the lunar month of Ramadan, use discretion when drinking, eating, and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset.

LGBT

The laws of Iran prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Those convicted can face corporal punishment, imprisonment or in some cases death penalty. Homosexual behaviour, adultery and sex outside of marriage are illegal under Iranian law and can carry the death penalty. LGBT travellers should carefully reconsider the risks of travelling to Iran.

Illegal or restricted activities

Avoid public displays of affection between two people of the opposite sex, especially between a non-Muslim man and a Muslim woman. Magazines and DVDs with sexual or explicit content are forbidden. Photography of government and military installations-such as ports and airports and their surroundings-is strictly prohibited. Such sites are not always identifiable. Refrain from taking pictures whenever you are not at a recognized tourist site. When in doubt, ask for permission. Playing music loudly in public, including in cars, is prohibited by law.

Driving

Non-residents require an International Driving Permit to drive in Iran.