Is Khat legal in Iran?
- Legal status
- Illegal — cathinone controlled and khat ('gat') prohibited (plant status left to confirmation). Mechanism: class (alkaloid). Iran executes heavily for opioids and meth, but khat leaf sits far below the capital thresholds — no realistic capital exposure.
- Consequences if caught
- Illegal nationwide despite minority use in the south-east; imprisonment rather than execution for khat quantities.
- If prescribed or medical
- Khat is traditional plant material with no recognised medical use and no lawful prescription route.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route; leaf caught via its scheduled cathinone content.
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 →