Many people are probably thinking about capturing Iran’s magnificent nature and historical monuments with drones. However, the current situation regarding drone use in Iran is extremely complex, and while legally possible in theory, the reality often differs significantly.
This article conveys realistic situations and necessary procedures for drone use in Iran based on information from local tour companies. Please note that legal regulations and operational realities may vary significantly by region and circumstances.
Gap Between Legal Regulations and Reality
According to Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAOI) regulations, drone use is generally permitted in principle. Small drones under 300 grams are said to require no permits, and photography in natural areas like deserts and mountainous regions is reportedly allowed. Legally, larger drone use is also possible by obtaining permits from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defense after clearly specifying filming locations and purposes.
However, observing local conditions reveals that actual operations differ significantly from legal frameworks. Even in areas legally permitted, risks exist of confiscation and crackdowns by security authorities. Particularly regarding devices equipped with GPS or cameras, extremely cautious approaches are taken from national security perspectives, and even explaining tourist purposes may lead to serious troubles including detention and arrest.
Reality of Security Authority Responses
Drone flights within Tehran city are completely prohibited
In Iran, surveillance of drone use is particularly strict in regions including Bushehr, Natanz, Qom, Arak, and Isfahan. Important facilities are scattered throughout these areas, creating risks of unintentionally flying near such facilities.
While use is legally completely prohibited within Tehran city, in other regions, sudden restrictions or confiscations may occur based on local security authority decisions. Under such circumstances, completely avoiding on-site troubles may be difficult even with proper permits.
Realistic Challenges in Permit Acquisition
Local laws state that drone use is possible with permits from the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Defense. However, individual tourists obtaining these permits is virtually impossible in practice. This is because permit applications require detailed flight plans, submission of technical information including drone weight, maximum flight altitude, flight radius, and maximum flight time, plus advance notification of exact flight points to the government.
All these application procedures must be conducted in Persian, creating significant language barriers. Furthermore, considerable time may be required from application to permit acquisition, making this unrealistic for short tourist trips.
Realistic Response Strategies
Considering these circumstances, the wisest choice when visiting Iran for tourism purposes is to forgo bringing drones entirely. If you want to record Iran’s wonderful landscapes, we recommend focusing on regular camera photography or consulting local certified guides to arrange qualified drone pilots who can accompany you.
Incidentally, even regular cameras (not drones) can lead to troubles if used indiscriminately. Particularly important to note is that unexpected restrictions may exist even in locations that seem suitable for photography. Iran has numerous important facilities, and their positions and ranges aren’t clearly publicized. Therefore, risks exist of unknowingly photographing in restricted areas.
How Was This Information?
In Iran, while drone use is legally permitted, actual operations involve very significant risks. Particularly for tourists, unexpected troubles may occur due to national security concerns. Simple confiscation would be fortunate; risks of more serious developments cannot be denied.
Currently, bringing drones for tourism purposes cannot be recommended even for small aircraft. We recommend recording Iran’s wonderful landscapes through regular ground-based photography. If you still consider drone photography, we strongly recommend consulting reliable local tour companies for latest situation updates and advice on necessary procedures.
Disclaimer
This article’s content is based on 2024 information, but Iran’s regulatory situation is extremely fluid and may vary significantly by region and circumstances. Additionally, significant discrepancies are reported between legal provisions and actual operations.
This article’s information is provided as reference only, and when actually using drones, please always consult reliable local tour companies or relevant organizations and make decisions at your own responsibility. Particularly regarding equipment confiscation or more serious trouble risks, these remain the traveler’s responsibility, so please exercise sufficient caution.
