TEHRAN – Iran has introduced sweeping new laws to regulate the production, registration and operation of civilian drones, aiming to strengthen security oversight and legal accountability for drone use nationwide.
The bill, officially titled the Comprehensive Law on the Regulation of Civilian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drones), was approved by Iran’s parliament on September 27, 2025, and subsequently approved by the Guardian Council on September 30. The bill was formally conveyed to the government on October 8 by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
The law consists of 22 articles and 17 notes and provides a uniform legal framework for the registration, licensing and insurance of civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also defines key operational terms such as ‘owner’, ‘operator’, ‘user’ and ‘operator’ and outlines specific roles for security and regulatory bodies.
Under the new regulations, drone operations in conjunction with security agencies such as the Ministry of Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization and law enforcement forces will be subject to directives approved by the Supreme Council of National Security.
A 13-member task force, chaired by the Secretary of the National Security Council, will oversee enforcement of the law and coordinate oversight across government agencies to ensure full compliance.
Licenses for the production, repair, training and operation of civilian drones must be jointly approved by the Ministry of Defence, the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Service and the Civil Aviation Authority. Unauthorized production or operation is classified as a crime.
The law encourages the vice president for science and technology to promote domestic manufacturing, support the transfer of dual-use technology, and promote exports of Iranian-made civilian drones.
Meanwhile, imports of drones and related components will only be allowed if local equivalents do not exist or if they are needed for development purposes.
All drone owners must obtain an official ownership certificate that includes technical specifications and a unique identification number.
Drone operations will be limited to authorized operators using registered aircraft, and all flight plans must be recorded in a central system to be established by the Iranian Airports and Air Navigation Company within three months. Security and intelligence agencies have direct access to this database.
Selling or operating drones without official documentation is strictly prohibited and all unregistered owners must complete the registration process within three months to avoid legal penalties.
The new law comes after a series of Israeli drone attacks on Iranian territory in June left more than 1,000 people dead during the 12-day conflict. Iranian officials said the attack, which used small unmanned aircraft, targeted the homes of military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Security officials have previously expressed concern about the lack of a comprehensive legal mechanism to monitor drones flying near sensitive facilities such as military and nuclear facilities.
Officials say the new law not only fills these security gaps but also lays a stable foundation for the safe, transparent and locally controlled development of Iran’s expanding drone industry.