Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Network Provider: Irancell
- Speed: 3G / 4G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Iran (Islamic Republic of), ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
Iran's tourist route — Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, and Kashan — combines ancient cities with one of the more complex mobile-data environments on any traveller's itinerary. Many Western apps are blocked at the ISP level, VPN use is widespread, and payment with foreign credit cards is effectively impossible because of sanctions. A Blikst Iran eSIM runs on the Irancell network (MTN Irancell, the country's second-largest operator), with 4G across the main cities and highway corridors and 3G in rural and desert areas. Install before you fly, land at Imam Khomeini International (IKA) in Tehran or at Mashhad (MHD) or Isfahan (IFN), and skip the carrier registration at an Irancell shop.
Where Irancell reaches
Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Tabriz, Yazd, and Kerman all have 4G. The highway network connecting them — the Tehran–Qom–Isfahan A1 and the Isfahan–Yazd–Kerman spine — is well covered. Persepolis and Pasargadae have 4G at the visitor centres and nearby towns. Desert excursions around Varzaneh and the Kaluts near Shahdad drop to 3G and edge. The Alamut Valley and the Caspian forest roads past Ramsar are patchy. Skiing resorts near Tehran (Dizin, Shemshak, Tochal) have basic 4G at the base stations.
Important practical notes
Mobile data works, but access to many services most travellers rely on — Google Maps (some features), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and app-store updates from outside Iran — is subject to filtering and enforcement that changes frequently. Locals use VPNs and domestic alternatives. Download everything you think you'll need before you fly: offline Google Maps tiles, offline translation packs, a reading list you've already cached. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and foreign-card payments do not work — bring cash (euros or US dollars) and exchange on arrival. The eSIM gives you a data line; it doesn't route around content restrictions.
Cost vs. buying a local SIM
Irancell and MCI sell tourist SIMs at IKA with passport registration and a modest fee. The process works but takes time after a late-night Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways arrival. A Blikst eSIM skips the counter entirely. Against US or EU roaming — where carriers typically do not offer Iran roaming at all, or charge punitive pay-per-use rates — the comparison isn't really meaningful; the eSIM is often the only practical option.
Arrival at Imam Khomeini International
Install the profile at home over Wi-Fi. IKA is 35 km south of Tehran and the ride into town takes 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. Switch off airplane mode after landing and the Blikst line registers on Irancell automatically. Pre-booked hotel transfers and tour-company drivers are the standard arrival method; Snapp and Tapsi (Iranian ride-hailing apps) are the local Uber equivalents, but they require Iranian phone numbers to register — plan for a hotel pickup first.
Apps and data habits
- Snapp and Tapsi: Local ride-hailing. Registration needs an Iranian number, so tourists typically can't use them directly — hotel or tour-operator staff can book on your behalf, and you pay them back in cash.
- Telegram: Widely used locally despite periodic blocks. Tour guides and hotels often confirm arrangements here. Install and cache before you fly.
- Maps: Download offline Google Maps tiles of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, and any route cities before departure. Maps.me is a reliable offline fallback.
- Translation: Persian (Farsi) offline pack in Google Translate is useful for menus and street signs. Many younger Iranians in tourist cities speak some English, but written signage is largely Persian script.
Plan sizing
A one-week Tehran–Isfahan–Yazd–Shiraz classic route works on 5–10 GB, especially if you lean on VPN for calls home (VPNs use data heavily). Two-week tours adding Kashan, Persepolis, and Kerman sit at 10–15 GB. Overland travellers through the region for three weeks or more should pick 20 GB or higher. If you're a journalist, researcher, or long-term visitor, plan for heavy VPN overhead above the actual app usage.
Install the eSIM before boarding. Land at Imam Khomeini or Mashhad with the Irancell line already provisioned, meet your hotel driver at arrivals, and head into Tehran without a SIM-store detour. One QR code and a working data line — inside the constraints of the local network environment.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
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How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
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Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Iran eSIM runs on the Irancell network (MTN Irancell), the country's second-largest mobile operator. You get 4G across the main cities and the highway corridors connecting them, dropping to 3G in rural and desert areas. It's a solid, reliable data line for the standard tourist route, though do keep in mind it gives you connectivity within the constraints of Iran's local network environment, not a way around content filtering.
Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Tabriz, Yazd and Kerman all have 4G, and the highways linking them — the Tehran–Qom–Isfahan A1 and the Isfahan–Yazd–Kerman spine — are well covered. Persepolis and Pasargadae have 4G at the visitor centres. Be aware that desert excursions around Varzaneh and the Kaluts near Shahdad drop to 3G and edge, while the Alamut Valley and the Caspian forest roads past Ramsar are patchy.
Right after you buy, you'll get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, so install the profile at home over Wi-Fi before you fly by scanning the QR code provided. The eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in Iran — just switch off airplane mode after landing at Imam Khomeini, Mashhad or Isfahan and the line registers on Irancell on its own. No need to queue at an Irancell shop for carrier registration.
Most modern smartphones work fully with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so do check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. On an iPhone you can check eSIM support under Settings > General > About and look for an EID number; on Android, look in your network or SIM settings. If the EID is there and the handset is unlocked, you're good to go.
A one-week Tehran–Isfahan–Yazd–Shiraz classic route works on 5–10 GB, especially if you lean on a VPN for calls home, since VPNs use data heavily. Two-week tours adding Kashan, Persepolis and Kerman sit around 10–15 GB. Overland travellers on the move for three weeks or more should pick 20 GB or higher. If you're a journalist, researcher or long-term visitor, budget for heavy VPN overhead on top of your actual app usage.
Yes, tethering and hotspot are supported, so you can share your Irancell data line with a laptop, tablet or a travelling companion's phone. This is handy for working from a hotel or keeping a small group connected on the road. Remember that hotspot traffic counts against your data allowance, and if you're relying on a VPN to reach blocked services, that overhead applies to tethered devices too — so size your plan with a little headroom.
This is a data-only plan, so you call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or FaceTime rather than a traditional number. Bear in mind that several Western apps are filtered in Iran and locals rely on VPNs, so cache what you need before you fly. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM and its number can stay in the phone for when you return.
Irancell and MCI sell tourist SIMs at the airport with passport registration and a modest fee — the process works but eats time after a late-night arrival, whereas the Blikst eSIM skips the counter entirely. Against US or EU roaming the comparison isn't really meaningful, as carriers typically don't offer Iran roaming at all or charge punitive pay-per-use rates. In practice the eSIM is often the only practical option, and you can't pay locally with a foreign card anyway.