Women in Iran can now officially obtain licences to ride motorcycles after a government resolution clarified traffic laws that had long been interpreted to bar them from doing so, amid wider social tensions across the country.

In a development seen as both practical and symbolic, the Iranian government has formally permitted women to obtain motorcycle riding licences – a step that ends years of uncertainty and administrative refusal despite no explicit legal ban on female riders.

The resolution, signed by First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref and approved by the cabinet in late January, instructs the traffic police to provide practical training for women, administer supervised exams, and issue licences to qualified female applicants.

Until this week, Iranian women technically had no legal prohibition against riding motorcycles or scooters under the letter of the law. But in practice, authorities routinely refused to grant licences, effectively preventing women from accessing legal protection, insurance and formal recognition on the roads.

Under the previous ambiguity, women riding without licences faced fines, legal liability for accidents and lack of insurance coverage.

Officials involved in drafting the measure have said the change is meant to clarify traffic code interpretation and align administrative practice with statutory text. Zahra Behrouz Azar, Deputy for Women and Family Affairs at the Presidency, said that the final steps for issuing licences are underway and that training programmes will be implemented soon.

Female instructors and police officers will be involved in the process, although male officers may take part where necessary under religious guidelines.

Why This Matters: Breaking Legal Ambiguity

For many Iranian women, motorcycles and scooters have been a popular means of affordable transport, particularly in crowded cities where public transit may be slow or unreliable. In recent years, women increasingly used two-wheelers despite the lack of formal licencing, often at personal risk to insurance and legal status.

The new directive does more than confer legal rights – it also addresses safety and administrative gaps. Women will now benefit from standardised training, formal testing and the protections that come with recognised licences, including lawful use of public roads and eligibility for traffic insurance.

Authorities will also work on ensuring the availability of safe, compliant motorcycles and protective gear for women riders.

Yet, this shift has come amid intensifying political and economic turmoil in Iran. A wave of protests that began in late 2025 over economic hardship, currency devaluation and rising prices has grown into broader anti-government demonstrations, with authorities reporting thousands of deaths and mass arrests.

Critics have questioned whether the timing of the motorcycle licencing resolution is a response to social pressure and a bid to ease discontent rather than a wholehearted reform.

Some women already on the ground have welcomed the change but emphasised that it comes after long grassroots experience. Saina, a 33-year-old advertising professional who had been commuting by scooter for months, told AFP that the legal recognition “comes too late,” though she acknowledged its importance.

The Road to This Moment: Gender Norms and Legal Battles

The new motorcycle licence policy is the culmination of years of legal ambiguity, social debate and cultural pressures. Although the Iranian traffic law never explicitly banned women from riding two-wheelers, one clause referred only to men, and traffic authorities used that to justify refusing licences to women.

Women’s rights advocates have long challenged this interpretation. As early as 2019, a branch of the Administrative Court of Justice in Isfahan ruled that qualified women should be issued licences after a complaint by a female applicant. Nevertheless, inconsistent enforcement meant that the ruling had limited nationwide impact until this week’s resolution.

Cultural opposition has also played a role. Some religious authorities argued that women riding motorcycles could invite undue attention from men or compromise modesty norms. In Iran, dress codes such as the mandatory hijab have been strictly enforced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and women riding motorcycles added another dimension to ongoing debates about public gender norms.

The recent surge in women on two-wheelers – often captured in local media and social posts – reflects wider social shifts. Many women now ride scooters and motorcycles daily for commuting, schooling and work, defying traditional norms without formal permission.

This trend gained further prominence after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained for alleged dress code violations. Her death sparked massive nationwide protests and intensified demands for women’s freedoms in multiple spheres of life.

Balancing Progress and Ongoing Challenges

While the new motorcycle licencing policy is a significant step, gender equality advocates caution that it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Women in Iran continue to face restrictions in many areas of public life, including dress codes, employment barriers, freedom of expression and political participation.

The resolution does not automatically undo deeper cultural constraints or the broader legal framework governing women’s rights.

For some critics, the move also comes at a time when the government is under pressure from economic woes and civil unrest. While the policy has practical benefits, sceptics argue it may be perceived as a symbolic concession rather than a structural transformation.

Nevertheless, many Iranian women and supporters see this as a positive sign that long-standing ambiguities can be challenged and resolved through legal clarity and civic engagement. It also aligns with broader trends in the region, where some neighbouring countries have undertaken reforms aimed at expanding women’s mobility and participation in public life – such as Saudi Arabia lifting its driving ban for women in 2018.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At its core, the formal recognition of women’s right to ride motorcycles in Iran is more than a traffic policy change: it is a testament to the importance of legal clarity and equal access to public spaces.

Mobility is intrinsically linked to economic opportunity, personal dignity and social inclusion. Denying such access on arbitrary or traditional grounds weakens social cohesion and undermines citizens’ sense of belonging.

This policy shift should be welcomed for its practical benefits, but it must also be seen as part of a broader, sustained push toward equality and justice.