Iran to Allow Women to Obtain Motorcycle Driving Licences

Iranian women will now be officially allowed to obtain licences to ride motorcycles, local media reported on Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding women’s use of two-wheeled vehicles.

While previous laws did not explicitly ban women from riding motorcycles or scooters, authorities had long refused to issue licences to female applicants. As a result of this legal grey area, women involved in accidents were often held personally liable.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a proposal on Tuesday allowing women to receive motorcycle driving licences, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). The proposal was approved by the cabinet in late January as part of efforts to clarify traffic laws.

Under the new regulations, traffic police will be required to provide practical training for female applicants, conduct driving tests under direct police supervision, and issue motorcycle licences to women, ILNA said.

The decision comes amid weeks of severe unrest in Iran, marked by widespread anti-government protests. Demonstrations that began in late December over economic hardship escalated into calls for the government’s downfall, prompting a heavy-handed crackdown by authorities.

Tensions have also escalated internationally, with the United States accusing Iran of violent repression of protesters and reportedly preparing military measures. Washington has deployed aircraft carriers near Iran, further heightening tensions between the two countries.

Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people have been killed in recent protest-related violence, claiming that most of the victims were members of the security forces and bystanders.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have faced various social restrictions. Riding motorcycles has been particularly challenging due to strict dress codes, which require women to wear headscarves and modest, loose-fitting clothing in public.

In recent years, however, many women have increasingly defied these restrictions. The number of women riding motorcycles has surged, especially since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of Iran’s morality police. Amini had been detained for allegedly violating dress regulations, and her death sparked nationwide outrage.

Following her death, widespread protests led by women erupted across Iran, with demonstrators demanding greater freedoms and an end to restrictive social policies.