Storytimes Newspapers

 Local media, including the ILNA news agency, reported that First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed the resolution on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, implementing a cabinet-approved measure from late January. The directive mandates that Iran's traffic police provide training, conduct supervised exams, and issue licenses to female applicants who pass. For years, Iran's traffic laws—specifically Article 20 of the Law on Driving Offenses—referred exclusively to "men" when detailing motorcycle licensing, creating a de facto prohibition. This prevented women from securing insurance, facing fines for unlicensed riding, and accessing legal protections on the road. While women could own motorcycles and ride as passengers, independent operation remained restricted, often justified by conservative interpretations of modesty and hijab requirements. The change follows growing public defiance, with videos and reports in 2025 showing increasing numbers of women riding scooters an...