Payments/IR
Iran, Islamic Republic of
ISO IR · 3 schemes
Summary
- Shetab national interbank network (2002)
- 92% debit card access population
- 4 million POS terminals (97% via Shetab)
- MIR integration with Russia (July 2024)
- Sanctions isolated from international networks
Banking landscape
Central Bank
- Name: Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI)
- Website: https://www.cbi.ir/
- Role: Monetary policy, Shetab oversight
Major Banks (2024)
| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank Melli Iran | State | Melli Mobile |
| 2 | Bank Mellat | State | Mellat App |
| 3 | Bank Saderat | State | Saderat Mobile |
| 4 | Tejarat Bank | State | Tejarat App |
| 5 | Iran Zamin Bank | Private | Amber App |
Market Structure
- 92% debit access: Population coverage
- 15,000+ online portals
- 4 million POS terminals
- Isolated system: International sanctions
Payment infrastructure
National Payment Systems
| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shetab | CBI | Interbank network | Active (2002) |
| MIR | Russia | Cross-border | Active (2024) |
| Card Networks | Banks | Domestic | Active |
Shetab Statistics
- 97% of transactions via Shetab
- 4 million POS terminals
- ATM, EFTPOS processing
- Internet/kiosk channels
MIR Integration (July 2024)
- Connected to Russia's MIR network
- ATM withdrawals in Russia
- Bilateral currency transactions
- Sanctions circumvention
QR code standards
Domestic QR Payments
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| System | Via Shetab apps |
| Usage | Growing |
| Examples | Phone Pay (taxis) |
| Status | Fintech developing |
QR Payment Features
- Card-to-card transfers
- QR code-based payments
- Smartphone top-ups
- Utility bill payments
- Charitable donations
Phone Pay Example
- Taxi fare payments
- Mobile wallet top-up
- QR code scanning
- Instant payment
Fintech Growth
- Surge in startups
- Mobile wallet creation
- QR code payment methods
- Major city adoption
Mobile payment apps
| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber | Iran Zamin Bank | Yes | NFC + QR (Jan 2024) |
| Phone Pay | Various | Yes | Taxi payments |
| Bank Apps | Various | Yes | Card transfers |
Amber App (January 2024)
- Iran Zamin Bank launch
- Contactless NFC payments
- QR code support
- In-store payments
Mobile Wallet Features
- QR scanning at merchants
- Bill payments
- Mobile top-ups
- P2P transfers
Schemes
| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shetab | National | CBI | 97% transactions | shetab |
| MIR | Cross-border | Russia | Active (2024) | — |
| QR Apps | Mobile | Various | Growing | — |
Sources
- GlobalData - Iran Cards Market
- Wikipedia - Shetab Banking System
- Central Banking - Iran Russia Connection
- Blockchain.com - Iran Digital Rial
- Iran International - MIR Integration
- OFAC - Iran Sanctions
- JLSDA - Legal Studies
- Shanbe - Online Payment Methods Iran
- Mah Card - Payment Methods Iran
- Visit Our Iran - Payment Methods
Full country report
Schemes
Standards
Primary · 1
Mentioned · 1