Iran Travel International

AIR: Iran’s national airline is Iran Air (IR) (website: www.iranair.com), which operates three/four direct flights per week to Tehran from London (Heathrow). British Mediterranean (a franchise partner of British Airways) operates four services a week from London to Tehran. Other airlines serving Iran include Emirates, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

Approximate flight times: From Tehran to London is six hours.

International airports: Tehran (THR) (Mehrabad) is 5km (3 miles) west of the city. Airline buses are available to the city (travel time – 45 minutes) for approximately IR200-500. Taxis are also available to the city centre for approximately IR10,000 (travel time – 30 minutes). Airport facilities include a bank, post office, restaurants and snack bar, duty-free shop, gift shops, tourist information and first aid/vaccination facilities.

Departure tax: IR70,000.

SEA: The main port was Khorramshahr until its destruction during the war with Iraq. It is currently under reconstruction. The ports of Abbas and Bushehr are to be found in the Persian Gulf and Nowshahr and Anzelli on the Caspian Sea. P&O Ferries connects Iranian ports with Persian Gulf States and Karachi.

RAIL: RAJA Trains (part of Iranian Islamic Republic Railways) operates passenger services from Tehran to Isanbul (Turkey) and Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic); from Tabiz to Djolfa (for the CIS) and Van (Turkey); and from Zahedan to Quetta (Pakistan). The Qom-Zahedan Line, when completed, will link Europe with India. Contact RAJA Trains (c/o Iranian Islamic Republic Railways).

ROAD: No reliable international through-road links. There are various routes possible from Turkey and Pakistan, but these are not recommended. Cars can also be put on boats at Venice or Brindisi and picked up at Ezmir. For details of political conditions governing access, contact the Embassy.