Iran

Brief Fact File

Capital	Tehran
Currency	Iranian Rial (IRR)
Language(s)	Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Local time	GMT + 03:30
Telephone code	98
Major cities	Shiraz, Esfahan, Mashhad

Economy
Iran's economy is largely driven by oil, which has left it vulnerable to fluctuating global conditions. Most of the economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is like small scale workshops, farming, and services. Agriculture is another source of exports. It includes dates, flowers and pistachios. The three largest import countries are the UAE, Germany and France and the three largest export countries are the UAE, Iraq and Japan.

Major Exports:

• Petroleum
  
• Chemical And Petrochemical Products
  
• Fruits And Nuts
  
• Carpets
  
• Live animals and vegetable products
  
• Food and beverages
  
• Mineral products
  
• Textiles and textile articles
  
• Base metals and articles
  
• Plastics and articles thereof
  
• Machinery and mechanical applications

Major Imports:

• Industrial Raw Materials And Intermediate Goods
  
• Foodstuffs And Other Consumer Goods
  
• Technical Services
  
• Vehicles and aircraft
  
• Live animals and vegetable products
  
• Mineral products
  
• Chemicals and chemical products
  
• Base metals and articles
  
• Machinery and mechanical appliances

Business Practices

Business Dress

• Iranian officials and businessmen wear smart clothing comprising of trousers, shirt and jacket. Many officials are also seen with collarless shirts. Ties are uncommon.
  
• Men should dress smartly and conservatively. A suit is standard, although wearing a tie is not necessary.
  
• Women should wear very conservative clothing that covers arms, legs and hair. In public, women must cover their hair with a scarf.
  
• T-shirts are acceptable for males in the hotter months but shorts are only ever seen at the beach.

Communication Guidelines

• At initial meetings it is a good idea to get to know the Iranian counterpart on a personal level.
  
• Always ask about his/her family in a non-intrusive way.
  
• If the companions are professionals, they will enjoy talking about their education, employment history and opinions on the field or sector.
  
• Iranians are proud of their country, language, culture and history.
  
• Men love football. Most of them follow the English and Spanish leagues particularly closely. They tend to follow current affairs and international relations closely.

Business Hour
Business open from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and after lunch till 7 pm. (Thursday till 12.30 pm)
Stores open from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Governmental organisations open from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm. (Saturday to Wednesday)
Note :- Thrusday and Friday is the weekend.

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
Industrial Development & Renovation Organization
Vali-Asr Building,Vali-Asr St
Jame Jam Ave - P.O Box: 19395-1855
Tehran, Iran
Tel.: +(98)-(21)-2044101 - 9
Fax: +(98)-(21)-2040010
E-mail: postmaster@idro.org

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
46, Mir Emad Str
Motahari Str
Tehran, Iran
Tel.: +(98)-(21)-8755103-5, 8755102 (for visa enquiry)
Fax: +(98)-(21)-8755973
E-mail: indemteh@dpimail.net
Website: http://www.indianembassy-tehran.com

Consulate of India, Zahedan
Tel: +(98)-(541)-3221727
Fax: +(98)-(541)-3221740
Working Hours:
8.45 am to 10.45 am - Acceptance of individual visa applications.
11.00 am to 12.00 noon - Acceptance of groups/travel agents visa applications.
4.00 pm to 5.00 pm - Delivery of Passports after Visa Stamping.

Consulate of India, Bandar Abbas
Tel.: +(98)-(761)-6661745
Fax: +(98)-(761)-6664512
Working Hours:
8.45 am to 10.45 am - Acceptance of individual visa applications.
11.00 am to 12.00 noon - Acceptance of groups/travel agents visa applications.
4.00 pm to 5.00 pm - Delivery of Passports after Visa Stamping.

Visiting this country

Business Visa Rules for Iran

Business Visa is a permission issued by the government for foreign experts, and businessmen who travel to Iran for a limited period of time for economic, commercial and industrial purposes.

Required Documents:

• Two completed application form. (The application form must be typed).
  
• The applicant's passport; that should be valid for at least 6 months, with a minimum of two blank pages.
  
• A copy of the passport (ID-page).
  
• Two current passport size photographs.
  
• The original payment receipt of the visa fee, paid into Account nr. 39511046292 in Nordea.
  
• Return envelop with self addressed and adequate prepaid postage to cover cost of registered mail.

Note:- Payment in cash is not acceptable.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Detail
Tasu'a of Imam Hussain	Muharram 9	Date varies with Gregorian Calendar. The Islamic months are as follows: 1. Muharram 2. Safar 3. Rabi' al-awwal 4. Rabi' al-thani 5. Jumada al-awwal 6. Jumada al-thani 7. Rajab 8. Sha'aban 9. Ramadan 10. Shawwal 11. Dhu al-Qi'dah 12. Dhu al-Hijjah
Ashura of Imam Hussain	Muharram 10
Arba'een of Imam Hussain	Safar 20
Demise of Muhammad and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan (Mujtaba)	Safar 28
Martyrdom of Imam Reza	Safar 29
Birth of Muhammad and Imam Jafar	Rabi'-ul-Awwal 17
Martyrdom of Fatima	Jamaad-ath-Thaanee 3
Birth of Imam Ali	Rajab 13
Mission of Muhammad	Rajab 27
Birth of Imam Mahdi	Sha'aban 15
Martyrdom of Imam Ali	Ramadhan 21
Eid ul-Fitr	Shawwal 1
Martyrdom of Imam Jafar	Shawwal 25
Eid ul-Adha (Ghurban)	Dh-ul-Hajja 10
Eid of Ghadeer	Dh-ul-Hajja 18

Travel Tips

• Hotels charge an addition of 10-15% on the bill as service charge. In restaurants, it is usual to tip a small amount. However, tipping is not expected in small hotels and tea-houses.
  
• Departure tax is IR70,000.
  
• In health issues, Iran is a fairly safe country but vaccination of malaria prophylaxis, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A is recommended.
  
• Exercise caution when buying food from street sellers or more basic restaurants, fruit and salads in particular.
  
• Although tap water is filtered, it is recommended to stick to bottled water. Take insect repellant and a high factor sunscreen.
  
• Smoking is not permitted in public buildings, on public transit, in shopping malls, and in most restaurants.
  
• Voltage in Iran is on 220 volts and frequency is 50 Hz.