.ir

.ir is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) designated for the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is used for internet addresses of institutions, companies, and individuals associated with Iran. The letters 'ir' derive from Iran's two-letter country code in the international list of country codes.

Like other ccTLDs, .ir is managed by a registry authority responsible for maintaining the register of domain names and operating the name servers. Management of .ir is handled by research and information technology institutions in Iran, particularly the computer science and physics research division in Tehran.

Domain name structure

The .ir register operates on two levels: direct registration under .ir, and registration within second-level domains. Common second-level examples include ac.ir (higher education institutions), co.ir (commercial), gov.ir (government), net.ir (network providers), org.ir (organizations), and sch.ir (schools). This structure makes it possible to identify the type of institution from the address.

Persian script domains

Alongside .ir, Iran introduced a non-Latin domain written in Persian/Arabic script, intended for addresses in the Persian language. Such domains operate under the IDN system, which converts non-Latin characters into a form that internet servers can process.

Restrictions and obstacles

Use of .ir domains is affected by financial and technological sanctions imposed on Iran. Many hosting, payment, and software service companies based in Western countries restrict services to sites associated with Iran. Additionally, within Iran, internet governance and filtering systems affect access to .ir sites.