Process service · Middle East & AfricaOverview
Process Server in Iran: How Service of Process Works
There is no Hague Service Convention route into Iran; requests for Tehran or Southern Iran need another channel. Complicating matters further, the United States and Iran have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980, which removes the ordinary diplomatic channel many non-Hague jurisdictions rely on for Letters Rogatory. Practical alternatives, such as service through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran (which represents U.S. interests) or FRCP Rule 4(f)(3) court-ordered alternative service, are typically what litigants must consider, and counsel should expect this to be one of the more legally and logistically complex service situations covered on this site.
Who serves process
Who Can Serve Legal Documents in Iran
Iran's civil procedure is governed by its Code of Civil Procedure for the Public and Revolutionary Courts, and court notices are increasingly delivered electronically through the judiciary's notification system. Iran is not a party to the Hague Service Convention, and the United States and Iran have no diplomatic relations.
In practice, formal requests from U.S. courts are rarely executed, and hiring a local agent in Iran can raise U.S. sanctions issues, so check OFAC rules first. U.S. and New York courts have allowed alternative service, such as by email, under Rule 4(f)(3) or state law when normal methods weren't workable. Persian (Farsi) is the language of the courts.
Typical documents include statements of claim (dadkhast), court orders and notices. Documents should be translated into Persian.
Proof you receive: a sworn affidavit of service
Your proof from Iran is a sworn affidavit of service, prepared by the person who served who served the papers around Tehran, with an English translation if it is issued in Persian.
FRCP 4(f)(3) Alternative Service Strategy
Given the absence of formal diplomatic relations and Iran's non-Hague status, we help build the factual record needed to support a motion for court-ordered alternative service under FRCP Rule 4(f)(3).
Interests Section Coordination
We advise on the practical realities and limitations of routing communications through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents U.S. interests in the absence of direct diplomatic relations.
Certified Persian (Farsi) Translation
Any documents prepared for potential use in connection with Iranian proceedings or authorities should be translated into Persian (Farsi). Every page is translated into Persian by certified legal translators, ready for service in Tehran and the rest of Iran.
Treaties
Iran and the Hague Conventions: Treaty Status
The Hague Service Convention lets member countries send documents to each other's Central Authorities for service. Iran has not joined it, so that route isn't available, and the Convention's Article 10 rules on postal and private service don't apply. Whether those methods are acceptable depends on Iran's law and on what your court allows.
Iran is not a party to the Hague Evidence Convention, so requests for witness testimony or documents go through letters rogatory.
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