New law ends legal uncertainty and formally permits women to ride motorcycles.

Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles, local media reported Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding two-wheelers.

The law had never explicitly banned women from riding motorbikes or scooters, but in practice authorities refused to issue licences.

This legal grey area meant women could be held responsible for accidents even when they were not at fault.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday clarifying the traffic code, following cabinet approval in late January, according to the Ilna news agency.

The resolution requires traffic police to provide practical training to female applicants, conduct supervised exams, and issue motorcycle licences to women.

The change comes after months of nationwide protests that began over economic grievances and escalated into broader anti-government demonstrations. Tehran has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest, saying most were security personnel or bystanders.

Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, women in Iran have faced strict societal restrictions, including dress codes that made riding motorcycles challenging. Women are required to cover their hair and wear modest clothing in public.

Despite this, the number of women riding motorcycles has risen sharply in recent years, a trend that accelerated after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide protests demanding greater freedoms for women.