Iran

Capital City: Teheran
Currency and exchange rates: Rial (IRR); 1 EUR = 34 IRR; 1 USD = 29,95 IRR (exchange rates of october 2015)
Language: persian
Country code and internet domain: +98 / .ir
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Local time: UTC+3.30

Visa information

Entering Iran is permitted only with a visa and a passport with six months of validity left from the date of entry into the country.

Attention! Tourists are not exempted from the Islamic dress code, especially women (head and body must remain covered at all time). Men are not allowed to wear shorts in public.

Travelling conditions

Considering the conflicts in these areas, it’s best to avoid the borders with Irak, Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially Sistani – Baluchistan, Khorasan and the Hormuzgan region.

Also, trips to the areas east of Kerman city and travelling by road to Bam are not recommended. Iranian authorities apply financial sanctions, in the amount of 30 euro/day for foreign citizens of which the entering or staying in Iran are considered unauthorized (Source: MAE).

In order to enter Iran with a vehicle registered in Romania, transit documents must be obtained from the Auto Club of Romania (ACR)

At the crossing point in Iran, an international vehicle transit document is required – “Carnet de Passage” (CDP), issued by the ACR. For further information, please visit the ACR official website. The CDP is not necessary for trucks that have TIR.

Attention: Diesel fuel pumps in Iran are available only for trucks, in case the trip will be by automobile, it is recommended to make the supply with gasoline.

Roads and fuel

The route chose by the UNTRR caravan was Astara (Azerbaijan) – Bandar Azali –Chalus – Gonbad Kavus – Bojnurd – Bajgiran (Turkmenistan border).

Iran has over 170.000 km of roads, of which three quarters have asphalt, and 1.5000 km is at an express road level. Traffic in Iran is busy, and locals hardly abide traffic signs and regulations.

Important! Fuel is rationalized in Iran. One liter of diesel fuel costs 0,17 USD, among the lowest prices in the world. Basically, every average sized town has a gas station. It’s important to remember that finding gas stations that supply diesel fuel is easier along the main roads than in the cities or suburbs, due to the small number of trucks in those areas. A gas station that supplies diesel fuel is easy to spot, judging by the quewe formed by trucks. Trucks are usually the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s type. The road quality good, and driving outside cities is not a problem. Inside the cities, thing are different: the traffic is „a disaster”.