Tehran Imam Khomeini — Iran’s main international gateway — has smoking rooms airside, described by travellers, in both boarding wings of the main terminal, plus open-air areas outside the building. The firmer rule for travellers is on vaping: e-cigarettes are banned nationwide.
Iran Airports Compared: Before and After Security
Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.
| Airport | Before security | After security |
|---|---|---|
| Isfahan (IFN) | Yes | – |
| Mashhad (MHD) | Yes | – |
| Shiraz (SYZ) | Yes | – |
| Tehran (THR) | Yes | – |
| Tehran (IKA) | Yes | Yes |
For international travel through Iran, Tehran Imam Khomeini (IKA) is the airport that matters; Mehrabad (THR) handles Tehran’s domestic flights, and the regional gateways at Mashhad (MHD), Shiraz (SYZ) and Isfahan (IFN) permit open-air landside smoking under the same national rule.
How Iranian Airport Smoking Works
Iran prohibits smoking in enclosed public places:
- Smoking rooms described by travellers are airside at Tehran IKA, in both boarding wings of the main terminal — the airport publishes no English facilities list
- Open-air landside smoking is permitted at Tehran Mehrabad (THR), Mashhad (MHD), Shiraz (SYZ) and Isfahan (IFN) under the same national rule — none of the four publishes a designated area, and none lists an indoor or after-security smoking facility
- Outdoor areas outside the terminal entrances (landside), the other option at every airport in this guide
- E-cigarettes and vapes are banned nationwide (sale and use) — do not bring one
- Transit passengers at IKA can use the airside rooms without exiting through immigration
The Hub
Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA). Iran’s main international gateway. Smoking rooms described by travellers sit airside in both the eastern and western boarding wings of the main terminal, plus a café and business-lounge smoking spot near passport control and a smoking room in the CIP lounge. The airport publishes no English facilities list, so treat signage and ground staff as the on-the-day authority; the open-air areas outside the terminal are the certain option. The separate Salam Terminal lists no dedicated smoking room; confirm with staff. Vaping is firmly prohibited nationwide.
Tehran Mehrabad (THR)
Tehran’s domestic airport, a few kilometres west of the city centre, handling only domestic flights since the capital’s international traffic moved to IKA in 2008. Open-air smoking outside the terminal, landside, is permitted; no smoking facility inside the terminal or after security is listed. See our Tehran Mehrabad Airport smoking guide.
Mashhad (MHD)
Iran’s second-largest airport, with domestic, international and pilgrimage-charter terminal buildings. Open-air smoking outside the terminals, landside, is permitted; no smoking facility inside any of the three or after security is listed. See our Mashhad Airport smoking guide.
Shiraz (SYZ)
Two connected terminal buildings, one domestic and one international. Open-air smoking outside either building, landside, is permitted; no smoking facility inside either terminal or after security is listed. See our Shiraz Airport smoking guide.
Isfahan (IFN)
Two terminal buildings, one domestic and one international; a direct Isfahan–Istanbul service resumed in August 2026. Open-air smoking outside either building, landside, is permitted; no smoking facility inside either terminal or after security is listed. See our Isfahan Airport smoking guide.
Tips for Smokers at Iranian Airports
- Tehran IKA’s airside smoking rooms, described by travellers, are in the main terminal’s boarding wings — ask staff if a room isn’t where expected
- Do not bring a vape to Iran — e-cigarettes are banned nationwide
- Departing from the Salam Terminal at IKA (no dedicated smoking room is listed; confirm with staff), or from Mehrabad, Mashhad, Shiraz or Isfahan: smoke in the open air before security — none of the four lists an indoor or after-security facility
- Landside, the open-air areas outside the terminal entrances are an option at every airport in this guide