Understanding Phone Numbers in Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Quick Reference Guide

  • Country: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Country Code: +98
  • International Prefix: 00
  • National Prefix: 0

Comprehensive Overview

Discover the intricacies of Iran's telephone numbering plan. This guide is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators seeking to understand phone number structures, dialing procedures, and technical details.

Numbering Plan Structure

Country Code

  • Country Code: +98

Area Codes

Iran employs two- and three-digit area codes for landlines, prefixed with "0" for domestic calls.

  • Tehran: 021
  • Isfahan: 031
  • Tabriz: 041
  • Mashhad: 051
  • Shiraz: 071

Number Lengths

  • Landline Numbers: 10 digits (including area code), e.g., 021 XXXX XXXX.
  • Mobile Numbers: 11 digits, e.g., 09XX XXX XXXX.
  • MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator): 11 digits, e.g., 099XX XXX XXX.

Special Prefixes

  • Mobile Numbers: Start with 09.
  • Premium-rate Numbers: Start with 9922 (specific to IR-MCI).
  • Toll-Free Numbers: Not explicitly defined.

Number Format Examples

TypeFormatExample
Landline0XX XXXX XXXX021 1234 5678
Mobile09XX XXX XXXX0912 345 6789
MVNO099XX XXX XXX0998 123 4567
Premium9922 XXXX9922 1234

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

  • Landline:
    ^0[1-8]{2}\d{7}$
    
  • Mobile:
    ^09\d{9}$
    
  • MVNO:
    ^099\d{8}$
    
  • Premium-rate:
    ^9922\d{4}$
    

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

  • Landline to Landline: Dial area code + subscriber number. Example: 021 1234 5678.
  • Landline to Mobile: Directly dial the mobile number, e.g., 0912 345 6789.
  • Mobile to Mobile: Directly dial the mobile number, e.g., 0912 345 6789.

International Calls

  • Outgoing: Dial 00 + country code + area code (if applicable) + subscriber number. Example: 00 1 555 123 4567.
  • Incoming: Dial +98 + area code (without leading 0) + subscriber number. Example: +98 21 1234 5678.

Number Portability

Iran supports mobile number portability, allowing users to switch operators while retaining their numbers. This service is available across major networks.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

OperatorHNI CodeNumber Ranges
IR-MCI432110910, 0911, 0912
Espadan432190931 (Isfahan only)
MTCE43270Specific range not provided
Iraphone43290Specific range not provided
Taliya432320932
TeleKish432140934
Shatel Mobile43208, 432500998
PH.LotusN/A0999

Number Allocation and Management

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) oversees the allocation and management of phone numbers in Iran, ensuring compliance with ITU-T recommendations, particularly E.164.

Technical Considerations

Number Validation

Use the provided regular expressions for accurate phone number validation in Iran. Consider number portability, where numbers retain their format despite carrier changes.

International Compliance

Ensure systems handling Iranian phone numbers comply with ITU-T E.164 standards, dictating international phone number formats.

Special Cases

  • Golden Numbers: While not detailed here, these desirable numbers may have special allocation rules.
  • Number Blocking: Systems should accommodate blocked or restricted numbers as per regulations.

For the latest telecommunications regulations in Iran, visit the official ICT website.