The heightened crackdown now affects Tehran, Mashhad, Qom, Kerman, Qazvin, Ahvaz, Urmia, Isfahan, and Lorestan, according to official statements and local reports.
Tehran’s traffic police chief announced that walking dogs in the city and public spaces is prohibited.
Police also banned transporting dogs in vehicles, warning they will impound cars and prosecute violators.
Mashhad has barred dogs from parks and public spaces for years. Municipal officers have repeatedly confiscated pets from owners.
Qom authorities banned dog walking and said having dogs in private vehicles could result in legal action.
Police in Ahvaz and Isfahan have confiscated pets and referred owners to courts.
Mohammad Taghi Naghdali, deputy chairman of parliament’s judicial commission, said “dog walking is fundamentally an un-Islamic practice.”
He said dog walking constitutes “displaying forbidden acts and promotion of Western and un-Islamic lifestyle” that can be “criminalized.”
Iran has no specific law directly prohibiting dog ownership or walking.
Authorities increasingly use concepts like “displaying forbidden acts” or “disrupting public order” to target pet owners.
Animal rights activists say the measures lack legal foundation and violate citizens’ rights. They view the restrictions as part of government limits on individual lifestyle choices.
