Road signs in Iran

Stop sign (written in Persian) located in Shiraz.

Road signs in Iran are regulated by both INSO standard 14815-1 and 14815-2. ^{[1] [2]} They generally follow the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals and their designs both influenced by British and German road signage designs.

Road signs are divided in three categories:

• Regulatory signs;
• Warning signs;
• Information signs.

History

An early pre- ratification Bilingual Iranian "No Entry" sign on a striped pole, Tehran street scene, 1967.

Iran signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on November 8th 1968 and ratified it on the date of May 21, 1976. ^[3]

Similar pictogram inspired signs were a common sight in urban Iran before the mid 60s, before globally similar signage, ^[4] often on a blank background; paired with Nastaliq text, and a bespoke Pictogram design.

By the late 70s, Iran's road furniture looked similar to the likes of Europe ^[5]

Warning signs

• 
  Warning for bends
• 
  Bend to the right
• 
  Bend to the left
• 
  Double bend, first to the right
• 
  Double bend, first to the left
• 
  Junction
• 
  Crossroad with priority
• 
  Side road with priority from the right
• 
  Side road with priority from the left
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Dangerous descent (10%)
• 
  Dangerous climb (10%)
• 
  Road narrows (both sides)
• 
  Road narrows (right side)
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Caution, speed bump
• 
  Danger of skidding
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Animals (domesticated)
• 
  Wild animals
• 
  Crosswind
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Rockfall
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Pedestrians
• 
  Children
• 
  School
• 
  Caution for bicyclists
• 
  Aircraft (landing corridor above road)
• 
  Caution, tunnel
• 
  Other hazard
• 
  Caution, queues likely
• 
  Be careful in winter
• 
  Tramway
• 
  Caution, fog likely
• 
  Caution, accident black spot
• 
  Soft verge
• 
  Level crossing with gates or barriers
• 
  Level crossing without gates or barriers
• 
  Distance marker (150 m)
• 
  Distance marker (100 m)
• 
  Distance marker (50 m)
• 
  Warning, single-track railway crossing
• 
  Warning, multiple-track railway crossing

Priority signs

• 
  Stop
• 
  Give way/yield
• 
  Priority road
• 
  End of priority road
• 
  Priority before the oncoming traffic
• 
  Priority of the oncoming traffic

Prohibitive or restrictive signs

• 
  Road closed to all vehicles in both directions
• 
  No entry
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No U-turn
• 
  No cars
• 
  No lorries
• 
  No buses
• 
  No tractors
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No cycling
• 
  No animal-drawn vehicles
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  No entry for motorised or animal-drawn vehicles
• 
  No vehicles heavier than indicated
• 
  No vehicles with axle weight greater than indicated
• 
  No vehicles wider than indicated
• 
  No vehicles taller than indicated
• 
  No vehicles or combinations longer than indicated
• 
  No vehicles carrying hazardous cargo
• 
  No vehicles carrying water-polluting cargo
• 
  Speed limit (80 km/h)
• 
  End of speed limit
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  End of no-overtaking zone
• 
  No overtaking by lorries
• 
  End of no-overtaking zone for lorries
• 
  No use of audible warning signals
• 
  End of all prohibitions
• 
  Stop to pay toll duty
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No animal riders
• 
  No vehicles towing trailers
• 
  Safe distance (70 m)

Mandatory signs

• 
  Ahead only
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Turn left ahead
• 
  Turn right here
• 
  Turn left here
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Pass either side
• 
  Ahead or right only
• 
  Ahead or left only
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  One way
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Snow chains compulsory
• 
  Minimum speed limit
• 
  End of minimum speed limit
• 
  Pedestrian zone
• 
  Cycleway
• 
  Route for animal riders (bridleway)

Traffic regulation

• 
  Freeway marker
• 
  Expressway marker
• 
  Road marker
• 
  Street marker
• 
  Avenue and boulevard marker
• 
  Roundabout marker
• 
  Sign ahead plaque (200 m, on top of the all signs)
• 
  Sign ahead plaque (2 km, on top of the all signs)
• 
  Different speed limitations in several roads
• 
  Minimum speed in different lanes
• 
  Bus lane ahead
• 
  Vehicles carrying hazardous cargo turn left
• 
  Directional sign
• 
  Pedestrian crossing

Temporary signs

• 
  Road narrows (both sides)
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Danger of skidding
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Soft verge
• 
  Other dangers

Route shields

• 
  Freeway
• 
  Highway

References

1. "استاندارد-ملی-علائم-14815-1" (PDF). imentaraddod.com (in Persian). 2013.
2. "استاندارد-ملی-علائم-14815-2" (PDF). shaghool.ir (in Persian). 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
3. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
4. Sorene, Paul (2021-07-12). "A Photo Tour of Iran In 1967". Flashbak. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
5. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2026-01-03.