Iran Likely to Approve Motorcycle Licenses for Women
WANA (Sep 14) – The Vice-Chair of Iran’s Article 90 Parliamentary Commission has indicated that if a bill allowing women to obtain motorcycle driving licenses is introduced in parliament, it is unlikely that lawmakers would oppose it.
Seyed Kazem Delkhosh, Legislative Deputy of the Presidential Parliamentary Affairs Office, previously announced that a bill would be submitted to amend Article 20 of the Traffic Violations Law. The amendment would enable the issuance of motorcycle licenses for women.
Delkhosh explained that the proposal aims to address a current gap in insurance coverage. At present, if a female motorcyclist is involved in an accident, damages to other vehicles or pedestrians are not covered by insurance, creating significant financial risks not only for women riders but for all road users.
Hojjatoleslam Ghasanfarabadi, Vice-Chair of the Article 90 Commission, said that while issuing motorcycle licenses to women poses no legal barrier, certain legal, religious, and customary considerations must also be taken into account.
He added that, currently, the number of female motorcyclists is low, so associated risks remain limited. One concern, however, is that allowing more women to ride could lead to a noticeable increase in accidents resulting in injury or death.
Regarding parliamentary reception of the bill, Ghasanfarabadi noted that if the proposal is formally presented, it is unlikely that members would oppose making it law.
An Iranian woman, Farah, rides a motorcycle without a license, while female motorcycling is still not officially legal, in Tehran, Iran, September 8, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
