Iran formally allows women to obtain motorcycle licenses

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – The Iranian government has approved a resolution to issue motorcycle licenses for women, formally allowing females to ride the two-wheelers.

According to local media reports, the government’s decision has now entered the implementation phase, even though the exact date for issuing the licenses has yet to be announced.

The long-anticipated decision was formally issued on Tuesday, bearing the signature of First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and laying out mechanisms for implementing a demand long raised by women in the country.

Under the directive, the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran is required to provide practical riding training and administer licensing exams for female applicants under the direct supervision of the traffic police.

Jamaran, a reformist newspaper, reported that the issuance of motorcycle licenses to women had been withheld for years due to “different interpretations,” despite the absence of any legal prohibition.

The report noted that the measure not only recognizes women’s legal rights but could also contribute to easing urban traffic congestion and improving road safety.

Valiollah Bayati, a member of Iran’s parliament, described the decision as “a step toward formally recognizing a legal pathway for women’s use of motorcycles,” stressing that no law in the country bans women from riding motorcycles.

He added that training should preferably be conducted by qualified female instructors, but in cases of shortage, male instructors may also be used, provided “appropriate considerations” are observed.