WANA (Oct 21) – While many global media outlets continue to portray a traditional and limited image of women’s status in Iran, new official statistics reveal that 97% of Iranian women are literate, and more than half of university seats in the country are occupied by women.

 

Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Deputy for Women and Family Affairs at the Presidential Office, said at the “Women and Family Diplomacy” conference in Tehran that over the past two decades, Iran has witnessed a remarkable surge in women’s participation in scientific, medical, and entrepreneurial fields. According to her, “The gender gap in education is only three percent, over 60 percent of university applicants are girls, and about 60 percent of the country’s healthcare workforce consists of women.”

 

Behrouz-Azar noted that Iran’s participation in international forums such as the Shanghai Summit and the Thailand Conference has drawn attention from foreign delegations. “For many international participants, seeing Iranian women in these arenas is surprising, whereas for us, it’s entirely normal. Iranian women play active roles in politics, science, education, and business,” she said.

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Citing Article 10 of Iran’s Constitution, which defines the family as “the foundation of society,” she added that many foreign observers are often surprised to learn about such provisions in Iranian law.

 

In another part of her speech, Behrouz-Azar highlighted the growing share of women in innovation and the knowledge-based economy: “Twenty-four percent of Iran’s inventors are women, and we aim to raise their share in knowledge-based companies from 12 to 30 percent.” She also noted that more than 70 percent of home-based businesses in Iran are run by women.

 

The deputy official emphasized that many of Iran’s women’s empowerment programs are designed around real needs — including livelihood, education, and family status — and that female heads of households receive targeted support.

Iranian women walk in a street in Tehran, Iran December, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Behrouz-Azar pointed to one of the main challenges in cultural diplomacy: the incomplete global image of Iranian women. “Iranian women can be mothers, professionals, and entrepreneurs at the same time. It’s time to introduce the world to the real image of the educated and independent Muslim woman,” she said.

 

Government data shows that women’s participation in higher education and healthcare in Iran now surpasses that of many developing countries. On the diplomatic front, Tehran is increasingly seeking to use the active presence of women in international forums as a means of reshaping its global image — an effort that could help foster a new and more nuanced narrative of Iranian society in the international arena.

Iranian women, Bahareh, Saqar and Farah ride motorcycles without a license, while female motorcycling is still not officially legal, in Tehran, Iran, September 7, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)