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Iran — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Iran is 3,500,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Iran is 7.31 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Iran ranked at No. 212

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Iran ranked at No. 791

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Iran are reported to have 5,604,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Iran are reported to have 259,5514 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Iran, annual homicides by any means total

2009: 2,2155
2004: 2,0156
2003: 1,803

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Iran, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2009: 3.05
2008: 1.4
2004: 2.986
2003: 2.64

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Regulation of Firearm Exports

In Iran, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 7

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Iran is reported to be US$08 (2011)

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Small Arms Exports - World Ranking

In a comparison of the world's major/mid-level/minor/unknown small arms exporters, Iran is categorized as 'unknown'9

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Regulation of Firearm Imports

In Iran, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 7

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Iran is reported to be US$5,404,8698 (2011)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Iran is reported to be US$20010

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Transparency of Small Arms Transfers

In the most recent survey of state transparency when declaring firearm and ammunition exports, Iran was ranked number 48 among 49 major small arms exporting nations in 2011, with a score of 0.00 points of a possible total of 2511

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Iran are regulated by the Islamic Consultative Assembly12

Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

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Regulation of Handguns

In Iran, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted with official permission12

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Iran, only licensed gun owners (separate licenses required for owning, possessing, carrying and using a firearm)12 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Iran must pass background checks which consider criminal and mental12 records

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Firearm Safety Training

In Iran, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is required12 for a firearm licence

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Iran, the law requires13 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Iran, licensed firearm dealers are required13 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In Iran, licensed gun makers are required13 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Iran, State agencies are required13 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Iran, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law13

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Firearm Tracing

In Iran, state authorities carry out13 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

Carrying Guns

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Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In Iran, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit12

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

At the resumption of the most recent session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UNCCPCJ), a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council mandated to promote action to prevent national and transnational crime, Iran was listed as an elected member for a three-year term of office14

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Iran abstained from endorsing15 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed16 by Iran

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Iran committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects17

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Iran has submitted one or more national reports18 7 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Iran, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated19 7

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Iran, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated19 7

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated7 by Iran to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Iran has not declared2 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Iran has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194520

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list21 Iran as a Participating State

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms - Annexe online.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2011.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Iran.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,6 October. (Q6302)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

7.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

8.

Marsh, Nicholas.2013.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,14 February. (Q16)Full Citation

9.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘60 Known Legal Small Arms Exporting Countries, 2001.’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q867)Full Citation

10.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

11.

Lazarevic, Jasna.2011.‘Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer 2011, covering major exporters.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5354)Full Citation

12.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

13.

Iran.2010.‘Marking and Tracing.’ National Report of Iran on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4654)Full Citation

14.

UNCCPCJ / UNODC.1991.‘Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.’ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.Vienna:United Nations Economic and Social Council / United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q3222)Full Citation

15.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

16.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

18.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

19.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

20.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

21.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation