Go back to database front page

Political Finance Database

Change country, region or political entity

Iran, Islamic Republic of

2016

2018

2021

Bans and limits on private income

Public funding

Regulations of spending

Reporting, oversight and sanctions

Question	Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?	Code Yes
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code No data
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No Comment No bans on corporate donations in law.
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No data
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No data
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes Comment No direct ban, but de facto ban through requirement to record or report identity of donor.
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code No data
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No Source Chapter 2, Article 16: 'The groups covered by this law should refrain from the following cases and matters in their publications, assemblies and other activities:A- Committing acts which may violate independence of the state.B- Any kinds of contacts, exchange of information and collusion with embassies, legations, government organs and parties of foreign countries, at any level and in any form, which may be harmful and injurious to freedom, independence and national unity and interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran.C- Receiving any kind of financial and logistical assistance from foreigners.D- Violation of legitimate freedom of others.E- Resorting to accusations, slander and rumor mongering.F- Violation of national unity and perpetration of some acts such as planning to disintegrate the country.G- Making efforts to create and intensify the division within ranks of the nation, using various cultural, religious and racial grounds existing in the society of Iran.H- Violating Islamic standards and the basis of the Islamic Republic.I- Anti-Islamic propaganda and publication of seditious books and literature.J- Hiding, keeping and carrying unauthorized arms and ammunitions.'Chapter 2, Article 18: 'Budgets of groups must be provided by legitimate and legal means and be spent in legitimate and legal ways and means.Note: The incomes and expenses of the licensed groups are to be registered in legal books and to be put at the disposal of the Article 10 Commission for its investigation, at the end of the fiscal year.' (Source: Law on Activities of Political and Trade Parties, Associations and Societies, 1981)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No data
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code No Source Chapter 2, Article 16: 'The groups covered by this law should refrain from the following cases and matters in their publications, assemblies and other activities:A- Committing acts which may violate independence of the state.B- Any kinds of contacts, exchange of information and collusion with embassies, legations, government organs and parties of foreign countries, at any level and in any form, which may be harmful and injurious to freedom, independence and national unity and interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran.C- Receiving any kind of financial and logistical assistance from foreigners.D- Violation of legitimate freedom of others.E- Resorting to accusations, slander and rumor mongering.F- Violation of national unity and perpetration of some acts such as planning to disintegrate the country.G- Making efforts to create and intensify the division within ranks of the nation, using various cultural, religious and racial grounds existing in the society of Iran.H- Violating Islamic standards and the basis of the Islamic Republic.I- Anti-Islamic propaganda and publication of seditious books and literature.J- Hiding, keeping and carrying unauthorized arms and ammunitions.'Chapter 2, Article 18: 'Budgets of groups must be provided by legitimate and legal means and be spent in legitimate and legal ways and means.Note: The incomes and expenses of the licensed groups are to be registered in legal books and to be put at the disposal of the Article 10 Commission for its investigation, at the end of the fiscal year.' (Source: Law on Activities of Political and Trade Parties, Associations and Societies, 1981)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code No data
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment During election campaigns no public resources, e.g. from public companies, institutes affiliated to the government, public media or activities of government employees, may be used or carried out in favour or against parties or candidates.
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code No
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code No data
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code No data
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code No public funding available
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Comment Candidates in presidential elections are entitled to equal access to Iran's state-media during election campaigns.
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code No
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code Not applicable Comment NA
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No Comment BLANK
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code No data
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code No data
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code Yes Comment Budget reports shall be submitted to a special Commission at the end of the fiscal year.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code No
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code No data
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code No data
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code No data
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code Special agency for political finance Comment Parties submit annual financial reports to a commission?composed of one representative of the Attorney General, one from the judiciary, one from the Ministry of Interior, and two representatives of the parliament.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code No institution specified Comment The Internal Commission should receive financial information, but it is not specified that it should investigate the accuracy of this information.
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Deregistration of party Other Comment Deprivation from membership in executive boards and supervision committee of polling station

Export 2016 data Export data for all years

Political Finance Database

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Cookie Notice

Explore