Compare the best ways to send money to Iran

The United States introduced economic sanctions against Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Since then, sending money to the country without significant restrictions has become difficult.

In fact, sending money to Iran for commercial purposes isn’t just challenging; it’s illegal.

Still, the USA allows residents to send money to Iran for non-commercial purposes, including travel expenses. The Department of the Treasury spells out the details of the sanctions and its exemptions.

This means you can send money to friends or loved ones in Iran provided you go through a third-party provider or institution and prove that the funds are for non-commercial purposes.

Due to concerns about funding terrorism, many Iranian banks are off-limits for payments sent from the USA. You may face certain transfer limits even when sending to an authorized bank.

Before you attempt to send funds to Iran, it is a good idea to contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control to confirm that you can legally make the transfer.

Best companies for USD/IRR transfers

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Last updated on 23 June 2026 This page updates weekly. We collect, store, and analyze USD/IRR exchange rates from our comparisons.

Based on 7,000 USD transfer

Best companies for USD/IRR transfers

All money transfer offers for USD/IRR transfers, sorted by most IRR received. The first two offers may be sponsored promotions. Some offers here pay us a commission.
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We didn't find any providers able to transfer your requested amount from to .

For better results, you may wish to adjust your search:

  • Try changing the amount you're sending - some providers have a minimum send amount

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Send money from United States to Iran

While you can’t send USD to IRR with Wise, you can transfer USD to USD.

Wise
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Transfer Speed
Minutes - 24 hours
Exchange Rate Markup
0%
Fees
0.1% - 2.6%
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"Over 15 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Ways to send money from United States to Iran

Sending money from United States to Iran doesn’t have a huge amount of options. Because of this, we suggest the following options:

  • A multi-currency account or a travel money card - especially useful if you're traveling. Wise is a good option if you have access to it.

  • Sending cash with an agent like Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria Money Transfer

  • A mobile wallet apps like PayPal or Xoom

  • Sending cash with someone you trust or exchanging it in-person. But make sure you know the person and trust them!

  • Cryptocurrencies like USDT or USDC are becoming more and more popular for international money transfers

Sending money to Iran: key insights and tips

Compare all the options

Don't settle for the first option. Always compare ways to send money to Iran to find out about fees, speed, and reliability.

Your analysis should include all the providers that operate in Iran. Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have when transferring IRR.

Think about the Iranian Rial exchange rate

The exchange rate determines how much IRR the recipient will get when you transfer money.

For example, today, the average exchange rate between the US Dollar and Iranian Rial is 1,374,999.9998.

The IRR rate constantly fluctuates depending on the destination currency and the market conditions, so timing your transfer can help you save a lot of money.

Sometimes, waiting a day or two can help you get more IRR.

Consider transfer limits

Due to the current situation in Iran, limits are lowered for transfers.

Small non-commercial amounts may be exempt from current sanctions, though you may still need to find a participating bank or money transfer provider compatible with Iran.

Once you cross the $1,000 threshold, your transfers may come under additional scrutiny.

The higher you go, however, the more limits you may face, and the harder it will be to navigate current sanctions legally.

Once you hit five digits, you’ll need to seek additional guidance from the government to ensure that your transfers are authorized and legally permitted.

Even if you find an approved money transfer provider, you could face transfer limits that make sending large amounts of money to Iran challenging.

It’s unlikely that the United States government will permit transfers of over $100,000 under current sanctions.

Consider the speed

Once again, sanctions may require you to focus on the legal feasibility rather than the speed of the transfer.

When possible, cash pickups can be an option. You’ll still need to select a bank or agent with no links to terrorism or illegal activities.

However, even if you send a small amount to approved banks and have a legitimate reason, be prepared to wait.

Any transfers to Iran will be going through multiple checks to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Ways you can send money to Iran

Money transfers to Iran are highly regulated, thanks to sanctions put in place by the United States Treasury.

Most American banks won’t conduct wire transfers to Iran. Furthermore, Iranian banks aren’t members of the SWIFT network ordinarily used to complete international wire transfers.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control may be able to help you locate a third-party banking institution that facilitates these transfers. Just be prepared to verify the reason for your transfer, and remember that you may face limits on the amount you send.

Money orders are also out for the same reason. Even if you could find a compatible provider, you would likely face high fees and the risk of scams.

Most major money transfer companies don't support Iran, however, you can use IraniCard or Moneyro, to make a transfer.

Cryptocurrency isn’t regulated like other financial assets, so you can transfer money in USDT, depositing it into the recipient’s digital wallet. However, the receiver will still need to convert and withdraw money.

How to receive money in Iran

Despite sanctions, Iranian recipients can still generally receive money in traditional ways.

  • Cash pickup: A cash pickup allows users to send money to a local agent, and recipients can receive cash within minutes

  • Bank deposit: Recipients can also receive cash through a bank deposit; however, concern around the threats in the country limits the number of banks you can make transfers to, so ensure to check with the receiving bank.

  • Cryptocurrency exchange: You can receive money into an exchange, and then withdraw to the bank. Similarly, sanctions limit the exchanges you can use, so please check in advance.

To receive money Iranian recipients will need a valid bank, precisely one approved by American authorities, which screens banks for evidence of participation in criminal or terrorist activities.

Have your details ready

When you're sending or receiving money in Iran, you have to be ready to share some documents.

The exact documents you need might vary by the company you use. Usually, you will have to:

  • Show a government ID like an Iranian passport or driver's license.

  • Give your contact details such as phone number and email address.

  • Have a legitimate reason for your transfer.

  • Be ready to answer multiple questions about your transfer.

  • You will also need to provide information about the recipient and explain your relationship with them.

Don't forget about taxes

Since commercial transfers are illegal due to sanctions, senders won’t have to worry about other situations that usually generate a tax liability.

Furthermore, sanctions may prevent you from sending large amounts, which means you won’t easily exceed the gift allowance if sending from the US.

When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in your country or in Iran.

Choose the right payment method

Due to security protocols in Iran, your transfer will likely face additional scrutiny that can slow the process significantly.

That doesn’t even include the preparation time needed to select an authorized Iranian bank or pursue legal counsel before initiating the transfer.

If you’re unsure of the best way to transfer money to Iran, you should start by contacting the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

When possible, in-person transfers can be an option, such as sending cash. You’ll still need to select a bank or agent with no links to any illegal activities.

Live USD-IRR Exchange Rate

Getting best exchange rate for sending US Dollar to Iranian Rial

Timing is essential when tracking the mid-market rate between USD and IRR. The end exchange rate you secure impacts how much IRR you get for your USD.

Mid-market rate:1 USD = 1,374,999.999755 IRR

How we analyze the market

We track, save, and analyze the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available between Iran and United States.


We work with leading money transfer companies to provide real time fees and exchange rates.

We also conduct detailed company reviews, combined with in-depth analysis, we can offer the best deals on the market - every time you want to transfer money from United States to Iran.


For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, check out these articles: