Is Codeine legal in Iran?
- Legal status
- Codeine (methylmorphine) is a controlled substance under Iran's psychotropic/narcotics medicine regime. Because codeine is a natural alkaloid not clearly among the substances enumerated in the death-eligible articles (notably Art. 8) of the Anti-Narcotics Law - which name opium, heroin, morphine, cocaine and their chemical derivatives - codeine's specific capital exposure is left to confirmation.
- Consequences if caught
- Illicit supply is handled under the narcotics/psychotropics regime (imprisonment, fines, flogging); Iran is the world's leading drug executioner, but the enumerated capital list targets opium/heroin/morphine/cocaine and derivatives, so codeine's placement in that tier is left to confirmation.
- If prescribed or medical
- Dispensed as a controlled prescription medicine on Ministry of Health authorisation.
- Documentation
- Import of controlled opioids is restricted and requires Health Ministry authorisation - carry a prescription and confirm current customs rules.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Iran’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →