Current Time in Iran
Iran Standard Time (IRST/IRDT) · UTC+3:30 / UTC+4:30 · Half-hour offset
Quick Facts
Iran Time vs World
Iran's half-hour offset means it's always :30 minutes off from most countries.
| Location | Iran Standard (IRST) | Iran DST (IRDT) |
|---|---|---|
| New York (ET) | Iran +8:30 | Iran +8:30 |
| Los Angeles (PT) | Iran +11:30 | Iran +11:30 |
| London (GMT/BST) | Iran +3:30 | Iran +3:30 |
| Berlin (CET/CEST) | Iran +2:30 | Iran +2:30 |
| India (IST) | Iran −2:00 | Iran −1:00 |
| Dubai (GST) | Iran −0:30 | Iran +0:30 |
| Japan (JST) | Iran −5:30 | Iran −4:30 |
Why UTC+3:30? Iran\u2019s Half-Hour Time Zone
Iran is one of only a handful of countries using a half-hour offset (others include India at UTC+5:30, Afghanistan at UTC+4:30, and Nepal at UTC+5:45). Iran adopted UTC+3:30 in 1946.
The offset was chosen because Tehran sits at roughly 51.4°E longitude, which corresponds to approximately 3 hours 26 minutes east of Greenwich — making +3:30 a very accurate geographic match. Rather than rounding to UTC+3 or UTC+4, Iran chose precision.
This creates scheduling headaches for international businesses. When it's 9:00 AM in New York, it's 5:30 PM in Tehran — the :30 offset means Iran is always out of sync with round-hour time zones.
The Solar Hijri Calendar — Iran's Unique System
Iran uses the Solar Hijri (Shamsi) calendar, which is fundamentally different from both the Gregorian and the Islamic (Lunar Hijri) calendar. The current year is approximately 1404 SH.
Unlike the Lunar Hijri used in Saudi Arabia (which drifts ~11 days/year), Iran's Solar Hijri follows the solar year precisely — its new year (Nowruz) falls on the spring equinox (March 20/21), making it astronomically accurate.
The first 6 months have 31 days, the next 5 have 30 days, and the last has 29 (30 in leap years). Iran's DST dates are tied to this calendar, not Gregorian dates — making them particularly challenging for timezone database maintainers to predict years in advance.
Major Iranian Cities \u2014 All on IRST/IRDT
Iran Quick Facts
Iran Time Difference
| City | Local Time | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| New York | --:-- | Same time |
| London | --:-- | Same time |
| Toronto | --:-- | Same time |
| Miami | --:-- | Same time |
| Los Angeles | --:-- | Same time |
| Mexico City | --:-- | Same time |
| Madrid | --:-- | Same time |
| Paris | --:-- | Same time |
| Berlin | --:-- | Same time |
| Dubai | --:-- | Same time |
| Tokyo | --:-- | Same time |
| Sydney | --:-- | Same time |
| São Paulo | --:-- | Same time |
| Singapore | --:-- | Same time |
📞 Best Time to Call Iran
Target 9 AM – 5 PM Iran local time for business calls. Calling Iran from the US requires planning. East Coast (EST): try 7–10 PM for a morning call. West Coast (PST): 4–7 PM. From the UK, early morning calls (7–9 AM GMT) reach Iran during business hours.
🕐 Time Zone in Iran
Iran uses IRST (UTC+3:30) year-round. Tehran is the capital and largest city.
Iran does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset stays fixed year-round — only countries that do observe DST (US, EU, UK) will shift relative to Iran twice a year.
✈️ Time-Related Travel Tips for Iran
When traveling to Iran, expect significant jet lag if coming from Europe or the Americas. Allow 1–2 days to adjust. Set your phone to local time immediately upon arrival. The primary language is Persian. Business meetings often start punctually.
💡 Interesting Facts About Time in Iran
- Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines — they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
- The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.
About Time in Iran
Iran uses 2 time zones. This makes it important to confirm the specific zone to coordinate times across the country.
The capital city Tehran serves as the political and often economic center of Iran. Major business activities are spread across cities including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan.
When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Iran, it's important to consider the time difference. IRST (UTC+3:30) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Iran.
Iran uses the Iranian Rial (﷼) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +98. Official languages include Persian.
View all 3 cities with live local times →
🌍 Other Countries in Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Georgia
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen