The +98 country code is used to dial to Iran. Iran is located in Western Asia and has a population of over 80 million people. The capital and largest city is Tehran.
Country codes are used to identify which country a phone number belongs to. When making international calls, the country code allows the call to be routed to the correct destination country. +98 is the designated country code for Iran.
Country codes always begin with a plus (+) sign, followed by either one, two, or three digits. The one, two, or three digits identify the specific country or region. For example:
- +1 is the country code for North America
- +44 is the country code for the United Kingdom
- +61 is the country code for Australia
- +98 is the country code for Iran
The plus sign indicates that the following digits are the country code. This allows the number to be understood as an international number. The country codes and networks they represent are standardized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
History of the +98 Country Code
The +98 country code was officially assigned to Iran in the 1947 during the establishment of the ITU. However, Iran was not using the +98 code yet at that time.
In the early days of international calling, country codes only had one or two digits. Iran was originally assigned the country code +21. This was in the 1950s.
Over time, as more and more countries got connected to the international phone network, one and two digit country codes started running out. The ITU began assigning longer codes with a leading 9 to new countries being added.
In the 1970s, Iran transitioned to using the newer +98 country code. The +21 code was discontinued. This freed up the +21 code to be assigned later to Ethiopia and some smaller African countries.
Geography of Iran
Iran is located in Western Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. It shares borders with several countries including Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Armenia.
At over 636,000 square miles, Iran is the second largest country in the Middle East. It has a population of over 80 million people, making it the second most populous country in the region behind Egypt.
Iran has a diverse landscape, including mountains, deserts, forests, and grasslands. The climate ranges from arid to subtropical along the Caspian coast.
Major Cities
Some of the major cities in Iran include:
- Tehran – Capital and largest city
- Mashhad – Largest city in northeast Iran
- Isfahan – Known for its Persian architecture
- Shiraz – Cultural center with many poets and artists
- Tabriz – One of Iran’s most populated cities
Use of the +98 Country Code
The +98 country code is integral to the Iranian telephone numbering plan. All landline and mobile phone numbers in Iran begin with “+98” followed by a serial number.
For example, a fixed line phone number in Tehran would be dialed as:
+98 21 xxxxxxxx
Where 98 is the country code, 21 is the local area or city code for Tehran, and the x’s represent the unique local number.
To dial a number in Iran from another country, the +98 code tells the international phone network which country the number belongs to so it can route the call correctly. Omitting +98 when dialing Iran internationally may result in the call failing.
Iran Country Code Facts
- Official country name: Islamic Republic of Iran
- Country code: +98
- Also known as: Persia
- Capital and largest city: Tehran
- Population: Over 80 million (17th most populous country)
- Land area: 636,000 square miles (18th largest country)
- Official language: Persian (Farsi)
- Currency: Iranian Rial
Conclusion
The +98 country code uniquely identifies Iran within the international telephone numbering system. It allows calls to be directed to and from Iran across the global networks. Although originally assigned in the 1940s, Iran did not implement use of +98 until the 1970s when longer country codes became necessary.
Knowing that +98 belongs to Iran provides insight into the geography and demographics of this large Western Asian country. When combined with the local area codes and number, +98 connects callers to the bustling cities and scenic landscapes of Iran.