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Iran

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Iran country brief

For the latest Australian Government travel advice for Iran, please visit the Smartraveller website.

Overview – bilateral relations

Australia has a long-standing bilateral relationship with Iran. We have maintained an uninterrupted diplomatic presence in Iran since our Embassy opened in Tehran in 1968. Iran has maintained a diplomatic presence in Australia since opening its Embassy in Canberra in 1971.

We continue to engage Iran in dialogue on a range of important issues, including regional stability, human rights, and immigration and consular matters.

Political overview

The 1979 Islamic revolution transformed Iran – abolishing the monarchy and establishing an Islamic Republic. The political system now comprises both elected and unelected institutions, though election processes have strong anti-democratic elements. The Supreme Leader is Iran's highest political authority and is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics (elected on a regional basis). The President, the unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (or Majlis), and municipal councils are elected every four years on the basis of universal suffrage. Electoral candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council, which consists of six clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader, and six legal figures appointed by the Head of the Judiciary and approved by the Majlis.

The Supreme Leader is responsible for choosing the Head of the Judiciary, setting general state policy, declaring war and peace, commanding the armed forces (including appointment of commanders and control of intelligence and security agencies) and holds the authority to initiate changes to the Iranian Constitution. Iran's second and current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, assumed the role in 1989, succeeding the 'father' of the 1979 revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini.

The Majlis has the power to initiate bills but the Guardian Council must approve all bills passed by the Majlis, consistent with Islamic law and the Iranian Constitution.

On 5 July 2024, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian was elected President in a snap election to replace former President Ebrahim Raisi (who, along with former Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, died in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024. On 21 August 2024, Iran’s parliament approved President Pezeshkian’s cabinet appointments. Seyyed Abbas Araghchi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (nuclear deal)

On 16 January 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) advised the UN Security Council that Iran had complied with the provisions of the deal, which sought to ensure Iran's nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes. This brought about 'Implementation Day' of the JCPOA: the lifting of various UN, US and EU sanctions on Iran stipulated in the agreement and the entry into effect of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA.

On 8 May 2018, then-US President Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the JCPOA. The US subsequently re-imposed sanctions on Iran that had been suspended under the agreement.

Since 2019, Iran has progressively reduced its level of compliance with the JCPOA and cooperation with the IAEA.

While not a signatory to the JCPOA, Australia supports the objectives of the nuclear deal and its contribution to nuclear counter-proliferation and the rules-based international order.

Australia’s sanctions regime on Iran

Australians considering commercial or other dealings with Iran should familiarise themselves with the operation of UN Security Council sanctions, Australia's autonomous sanctions and the sanctions laws of other countries; and seek independent legal advice before making commercial decisions. For more information, please see the Iran sanctions regime page.

Human rights

The Australian Government remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Iran, including Iran’s increased use of the death penalty and its continued persecution of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people, violations of political and media freedoms, and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities.

The Government has strongly urged Iranian authorities to respect the human rights of their citizens. Australia has expressed these concerns in both Canberra and Tehran and in multilateral fora, including the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

The Government continues to advise “do not travel” to Iran as there is a high risk you could be arbitrarily detained or arrested.

Economic overview

Iran is a significant regional economy with a large population (estimated to be over 90 million). The economy is heavily dependent on hydrocarbon exports and dominated by the oil industry. As a result, economic growth has traditionally been strongly influenced by oil market developments. An ongoing goal of Iranian economic policy is diversification of the economy away from dependence on oil earnings.

State actors, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), dominate key industry sectors, and organisations controlled by religious foundations account for a significant share of GDP. The private sector is generally confined to small and medium enterprises. The economic situation remains difficult, including due to international sanctions.

The value of Australia's two-way goods and services trade with Iran was $339.9 million in the 2022-23 financial year. Traditionally, Iran has been one of Australia's leading wheat export destinations, and other primary exports include barley, wool and meat. 

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