Is Methadone legal in Iran?
- Legal status
- Methadone is a controlled narcotic medicine under Iran's Health Ministry regulations; being fully synthetic it is NOT clearly enumerated among the Art. 8 capital substances of the Anti-Narcotics Law (which name heroin/morphine/cocaine and their chemical derivatives), so its drug-specific capital exposure is left to confirmation (Iran is the world's largest drug executioner — 485 in 2024).
- Consequences if caught
- Illicit supply is prosecuted under the narcotics regime (imprisonment, fines, flogging); capital exposure attaches to the Art. 8 enumerated substances, and methadone's inclusion is left to confirmation.
- If prescribed or medical
- Prescribed for OST as a controlled medicine on Health Ministry authorisation (Iran runs a large methadone-maintenance programme).
- Documentation
- Import of controlled opioids is restricted — Health Ministry authorisation is required; carry full documentation.
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 →