Iran

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car. 

You should also:  

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants   
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens   
• be aware that fasting can cause tiredness, particularly during the later afternoon and early evening  
• be patient and show tolerance  

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.   

Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced. In public places women must cover their heads with a headscarf, wear trousers or a floor-length skirt, and a long-sleeved tunic or coat that reaches to mid-thigh or knee. Men should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in public. 

There are extra dress requirements at religious sites. Women may be asked to put on a chador (a garment that covers the whole body except the face) before entering. 

The Iranian authorities have arrested, detained and in some cases committed serious acts of violence against women and girls for not properly following dress codes. Enforcement ‘crackdowns’ can lead to large-scale arrests across the country at any time. 

Adultery and sex outside marriage are illegal under Iranian law and carry the death penalty.  

Relationships between non-Muslim men and Muslim women are illegal, although few westerners have been prosecuted. If a Muslim woman is found in a relationship with a non-Muslim man, she may be sentenced to be whipped.  

Unmarried partners and friends of the opposite sex travelling together should be extremely cautious. Sex outside marriage and same-sex relations are against the law in Iran, with the death penalty as the defined punishment.  

Iranian hotel managers could insist on seeing a marriage certificate before allowing couples to share a hotel room.  

Same-sex relationships are illegal under Iranian law and can carry the death penalty.   

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Women should take extra care, particularly when travelling alone or with friends of the opposite sex. Women face a range of issues, from enforced hijab wearing to harassment due to there being relatively few foreign women in Iran. Respect local customs and avoid isolated areas. See more advice for women travelling abroad.  

Many western streaming services including Netflix and Prime are banned in Iran.  

It is illegal to import, sell, manufacture or drink alcohol in Iran. This is on religious grounds, with exceptions only for certain recognised Iranian religious minorities. Drinking alcohol in public is not allowed, with no exceptions. Penalties can be severe. 

Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited. You can be detained and charged with breaking national security laws. Sensitive government buildings and facilities are often difficult to identify. Take extreme care when taking photographs in any area. The Iranian authorities have arrested foreign nationals for possessing photographic equipment near sensitive sites. 

Using a laptop or other electronic equipment in public places can be misinterpreted, especially if your device contains photographs. You may be arrested and detained on serious criminal charges, including espionage.  

It’s better to ask before taking photographs of people.  

It is illegal to import, sell, manufacture or consume drugs in Iran. Penalties for importing and possessing drugs are severe and enforced. Many people convicted of drug offences, including foreign nationals, have been executed.  

You must carry copies of your passport photo page and visa for identification. Make sure you have a copy of the emergency contact details. 

You need permission from the Iranian authorities to import or use equipment like drones or satellite phones. Using them without permission is illegal and you could be arrested. 

Iranian authorities have blocked, significantly slowed or shut down landline, internet and mobile services without warning in the past. This can be nationwide or localised. This can affect communication and location services on smartphones and other devices. You should:  

• not rely on mobile data, non-Iranian mobile apps or international calls for personal safety  
• always keep an alternative means of communication and navigation with you 
• make sure friends and family know where you are  

Individuals involved in commercial disputes with Iranian companies risk being stopped from leaving the country until disputes are resolved.  

Representatives of British or western companies may receive particular attention. British businesspeople travelling to Iran against our advice should take steps to protect commercially sensitive information, including password protection of electronic devices and not carrying unnecessary information. Electronic devices may be screened by customs officials on arrival and departure. 

See Overseas business risk in Iran for more information. 

Many parts of Iran are at risk of earthquakes and tremors. These can be high magnitude, cause damage to infrastructure and put lives at risk.  

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.  

Some provinces can suffer from floods in spring, particularly:  

• Khuzestan  
• Golestan  
• Lorestan  

You should:  

• follow local news updates 
• monitor advice from local authorities   
• take waterproofs, thermals, hiking boots and rations when driving and walking