June 11, 2025, 3:25 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Iranian authorities have banned walking dogs in several cities across the country. This ban has been in effect in the capital, Tehran, for years and has now been extended to about 20 more cities.
Dogs and their owners, who lead them on leashes through streets, parks, and forests, are a common sight in Europe, the U.S., and many other parts of the world, and they are indispensable there. However, not everywhere in the world do dogs play such a significant role in daily life as they do with us. This is the case, for example, in Iran. Authorities in nearly 20 cities in Iran have now issued a ban on walking dogs—something hard for us in Europe to imagine.
In 20 Iranian Cities, Walking Dogs Is Now Prohibited
In the capital city of Tehran, among other places, walking dogs is prohibited. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, dog ownership in Iran has been a highly controversial topic—though it is not officially banned. Nevertheless, dog owners face significant obstacles by our standards. According to Islamic tradition, dogs are considered impure, which is why their ownership is not particularly widespread in Iran.
Religious conservatives even argue that playing or walking with dogs in public harms Islamic culture, hygiene, and the peace of others. Additionally, dogs are seen as a symbol of a Western lifestyle.1
Dogs as a Threat to Public Order and Safety
As early as 2019, a police directive in Tehran banned walking dogs. Since then, regional authorities in Iran have repeatedly issued bans prohibiting owners from taking their dogs into public spaces or vehicles. High fines are threatened for walking dogs. Additionally, vehicles transporting dogs can be confiscated for up to three months.
Furthermore, homeowners have reportedly been urged not to rent their apartments to dog and cat owners.2 However, some Western media report that law enforcement is rarely consistent in enforcing these rules. As a result, many dog owners in Tehran continue to walk their pets.
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Dogs Once Had a Different Status in Iran
However, according to media reports, this dog ban has recently been extended to at least 18 more cities. According to the state newspaper “Iran,” these measures aim to “maintain public order, ensure safety, and protect public health.”
But it wasn’t always this way. In 1948, Iran was one of the first countries in the Middle East to pass an animal protection law. Traditionally, dogs were commonly kept as guard and herd animals in some rural areas. Later, these four-legged friends became increasingly popular as pets among the middle and upper classes.3
After the Islamic Revolution and the violent takeover by Islamists, strict rules were imposed. In 2011, the then-chief of the Iranian police, General Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam, stated: “We are an Islamic society, and dogs are impure animals according to Islam. They should not appear in public. We will ensure this.” Since then, the situation for dog owners in Iran has—at least legally—deteriorated. What the dog ban will mean for owners in other locations remains to be seen.