Relations between Iran and the United States have been frayed since the fall of the Shah in 1979. That said, international interest in Iran philately abounds. Each Iran stamp gives collectors a unique perspective on this by and large closed society. A trained eye can identify certain cultural changes and religious attitudinal shifts simply by scrutinizing the stamps which the government chooses to publish.

There are over a dozen Iranian stamp eras to explore. Between 1889 and 1891, the fledgling Iranian postal system produced a series of stamps and postmarks. Most of these relatively uncommon and obscure stamps have since been destroyed. However, instances of good condition 1889 to 1891 Iranian stamps still exist.

The Iranian postal system has regularly issued stamps commemorating the country's political leaders. There are actually two major series paying homage to Ahmad Shah. The postal service also put out two commemorative series for Reza Shah. The Coronation of the Shah in 1968 was a well-publicized national event and merited the issuance of another set of stamps.

Regional women's costumes from Iran, carpets from the region, and local celebrities all populate Iranian stamps prior to 1979. Subsequent to the fall of the Shah and the rise of the Iranian Mullahs, Persian stamps have been dominated by religious images. For instance, in 1991, the government issued a two-dollar stamp celebrating the 12th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. That same year, Iran also issued a 60-cent stamp honoring the Islamic figure, Bassij.