Emergency contact numbers in Iran operate on a standardized three-digit system implemented in 2007. Police assistance uses 110. Medical emergencies dial 115 for ambulance services. Fire departments respond to 125. Traffic police operate on 197. The Red Crescent Society of Iran, equivalent to Red Cross organizations elsewhere, maintains a separate emergency number at 112 for coordinated response services. These numbers function throughout Iranian territory, though English-language support varies significantly by location and time of day.
Tehran hosts the largest concentration of hospitals equipped for international patient care. Kasra Hospital in northwestern Tehran maintains a specific international patient department with staff holding demonstrated English proficiency. Day General Hospital in the Velenjak district operates a trauma center that has treated foreign nationals since 1996. Mahak Hospital specializes in pediatric oncology and accepts referrals throughout the Middle East region. Erfan Hospital in western Tehran provides cardiac care facilities that opened expanded units in 2018. None of these facilities guarantee English-speaking physicians on all shifts. Medical infrastructure quality decreases substantially outside major urban centers. Village clinics and small-city hospitals may lack diagnostic imaging equipment, consistent pharmaceutical stocks, or personnel trained beyond basic primary care protocols. Patients requiring specialized intervention often transfer to provincial capitals or Tehran.
International health insurance policies frequently exclude coverage for medical treatment obtained in Iran due to sanctions frameworks. Travelers should verify specific policy language regarding Iran before departure. Payment for medical services typically requires cash in Iranian rials at time of service. Credit cards issued by banks outside Iran do not function in Iranian payment systems. Hospital billing departments may accept major foreign currencies including euros and US dollars, though exchange rates applied may differ from official published rates. Medical costs in Iran register significantly lower than Western European or North American equivalents. A consultation with a general practitioner in Tehran private clinics ranges between 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 rials. Emergency room treatment without admission averages 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 rials depending on procedures required. Hospital admission costs vary from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000 rials per day based on facility standard and required monitoring level.
Pharmaceutical availability in Iran faces constraints from international sanctions affecting importation of specific medications and manufacturing equipment. Common antibiotics, pain relievers, and diabetes medications remain generally available through Iranian domestic production or permitted import channels. Specialized medications for rare conditions, certain cancer treatments, and recently patented drugs may be unavailable or available only through irregular supply chains. Travelers requiring specific prescription medications should carry adequate supplies for their entire stay plus additional reserves for potential delays. Original prescription documentation in English or accompanied by physician letters assists customs clearance. Iranian customs regulations permit personal medication imports for quantities reasonable to individual treatment duration. Commercial quantities trigger separate importation rules requiring advance pharmaceutical licensing.
The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education operates a pharmaceutical tracking system called IRC (Iranian Registration Code) that authenticates medications sold through licensed pharmacies. Counterfeit medications exist primarily in informal markets and unlicensed outlets. Licensed pharmacies display green cross symbols and government certification placards. Pharmacists in Iran complete five-year university programs and many speak functional English in major cities. They can suggest locally available alternatives when foreign-brand medications are unavailable. Generic equivalents manufactured in Iran typically cost 60 to 80 percent less than imported branded versions when available.
Embassy and consular services for foreign nationals in Iran concentrate in Tehran with limited presence elsewhere. The British Embassy in Tehran reopened in 2015 after closure from 2011 to 2014. It operates from Ferdowsi Avenue and provides consular assistance to UK citizens. The Swiss Embassy on Shahid Yasini Street represents United States interests in Iran since the US closed its embassy in 1980. American citizens requiring consular assistance direct inquiries through the Swiss representation. The Canadian Embassy closed in 2012 and Italy represents Canadian interests through its Tehran embassy. The German Embassy operates from Fereshteh Street in northern Tehran. The French Embassy functions from Neauphle-le-Chateau Street. Most European Union member states maintain embassies in Tehran. The Australian Embassy closed in 2013 and Sweden represents Australian interests. Consular officers can replace lost or stolen passports, provide lists of local legal counsel, contact family members during emergencies, and visit detained nationals. They cannot override Iranian legal processes, provide legal representation directly, or secure release from detention.
Police stations in Iran operate under two primary organizational structures. The Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NAJA) handles standard civil policing throughout the country. They wear green uniforms and operate marked vehicles with Persian script identifying them as "Police" (پلیس). Tourist police units function in major cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Yazd. These units position officers at major tourist sites and bazaars, typically wearing standard police uniforms with distinctive tourist police badges. Some tourist police officers speak English, though this capability varies by individual assignment. The second force, Basij volunteer militia, operates under Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and focuses on public morality enforcement. Basij personnel sometimes wear plainclothes or distinctive camouflage patterns. Foreign nationals typically interact with NAJA officers rather than Basij forces during routine matters.
Reporting crime or emergencies to Iranian police requires persistence with language barriers outside major tourist centers. Police stations in district capitals maintain written complaint processes that function without spoken language exchange. A complainant writes details in their own language and police arrange translation services, though this process may require multiple visits over several days. Theft reports generate written documentation necessary for insurance claims. Police in Iran rarely investigate property crimes involving foreign tourists with the intensity common in some Western jurisdictions, though documentation will be produced. Assault or serious crime reports trigger more immediate response. Female travelers reporting sexual harassment or assault should request female officers, available at all major stations though potentially requiring wait time.
Legal representation in Iran requires engaging Iranian-licensed attorneys. The Iran Bar Association website lists licensed practitioners by city and specialty area, though English-language interface remains limited. Several law firms in Tehran specialize in matters involving foreign nationals. Dornob Law Firm on Shariati Street maintains staff with demonstrated English capability. Sabeti & Khatib operates offices in Tehran and Shiraz with experience in consular coordination. Hourly rates for attorneys handling foreign client matters range from 5,000,000 to 25,000,000 rials depending on firm reputation and case complexity. Retainer requirements typically equal 20 to 40 hours of anticipated work. Iranian criminal procedure requires defendants to engage Iranian counsel licensed in the jurisdiction where charges were filed. Foreign attorneys cannot represent clients in Iranian courts without co-counsel holding Iranian licensure.
Internet connectivity in Iran operates under government filtering systems that block access to numerous foreign websites and platforms. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram, and most Western social media platforms face active blocking. News websites from organizations designated as hostile by Iranian authorities remain inaccessible through standard connections. Virtual Private Network services provide circumvention capability, though Iranian authorities periodically block specific VPN protocols. As of 2024, OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols face less consistent blocking than PPTP or L2TP protocols. Travelers should configure and test VPN access before arriving in Iran. Mobile phone data connections face identical filtering as fixed-line internet. Download speeds through Iranian internet service providers range from 2 to 20 megabits per second for consumer connections. Upload speeds typically measure 20 to 40 percent of download capacity. Hotel WiFi networks rarely exceed 5 megabits download speed during peak occupancy periods.
Mobile phone roaming in Iran became more accessible after some European carriers negotiized agreements with Iranian operators beginning in 2016. Mobile network operators in Iran include Hamrah-e Aval (MCI), Irancell, and RighTel. Roaming charges from European carriers typically range from 8 to 15 euros per megabyte of data. Voice calls cost 2 to 4 euros per minute. These rates make roaming financially impractical for extended stays. Local SIM cards offer substantially lower costs. Tourist SIM cards are available at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after customs clearance. Irancell sells tourist packages at approximately 500,000 rials for seven days with 2 gigabytes of data. Activation requires passport presentation and registration under Iranian telecommunications regulations implemented in 2019. Registration links the SIM card to passport number and tracks usage under Iranian law. Iranian mobile networks operate on GSM 900/1800 MHz and 3G UMTS 2100 MHz bands. 4G LTE service covers Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz with expanding coverage in smaller cities.