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Polymarket in Iran (2026) | Blocked — OFAC Sanctions & Access Guide

Polymarket is fully blocked in Iran under US OFAC sanctions. Iran is block-complete (no new orders, positions cannot be closed). Sanctions context, Iran's central bank crypto rules, and why access is impossible.

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Polymarket is fully blocked in Iran. Iran sits on the US Treasury OFAC comprehensive sanctions list, and Polymarket applies its most restrictive status to the country: block-complete — no orders can be placed, and existing positions cannot be closed. This is a sanctions-driven block rather than an ordinary regional geoblock, and it means there is currently no supported way to use Polymarket from Iran.

Current Status: Fully Blocked

Iran is blocked on Polymarket. Unlike close-only countries, where existing accounts can unwind open positions, a blocked country offers zero access: no new trades, no closing trades, no deposits or withdrawals.

This status comes directly from US sanctions. Iran is a target of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), one of OFAC’s most comprehensive sanctions programs. As a result, Polymarket — a US-connected platform — prohibits all activity for Iranian IP addresses and accounts. This is block-complete, not close-only: there is no path to trade or to close an existing position.

Sanctions Context

US sanctions on Iran are among the broadest in the world, administered by OFAC (the Office of Foreign Assets Control) under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 560). These are comprehensive sanctions, which generally prohibit virtually all trade, financial, and other transactions between US persons and Iran.

Because of this framework:

  • Polymarket blocks Iran completely — the most restrictive status, reserved for OFAC-sanctioned countries (alongside Cuba, North Korea, and Syria).
  • US-based crypto platforms and exchanges generally cannot onboard or serve Iranian residents.
  • US persons are, with limited exceptions, prohibited from engaging in most transactions with Iran, including providing digital-asset services.

OFAC has also increasingly applied its sanctions framework to crypto — including designating crypto wallets and entities connected to sanctioned jurisdictions and expanding enforcement in digital assets.

Iran’s Active but Restricted Crypto Stance

Iran has engaged with cryptocurrency more deliberately than most sanctioned states, driven by sanctions pressure and its energy-intensive mining industry:

  • In August 2019, Iran recognized crypto mining as a legal economic sector, and has used mined bitcoin for sanctioned-bypassing imports in some reported cases.
  • The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) holds authority over the space and requires licensing for participants; a January 2025 government directive formalized crypto market regulations and permitted platforms to seek licenses.
  • However, using cryptocurrency for payments is banned, and Iranian banks are prohibited from dealing in foreign cryptocurrency — so domestic crypto activity is heavily restricted, largely limited to mining and peer-to-peer arrangements.

The Conflict with US Sanctions

Despite Iran’s domestic engagement with crypto, US OFAC sanctions take precedence for US-connected platforms. This tension is why:

  • Crypto activity in Iran often relies on foreign, non-US platforms and peer-to-peer arrangements.
  • US-based platforms like Polymarket must block Iran under US law.

For an Iranian resident, the practical effect is that the mainstream US crypto ecosystem — including Polymarket — is off-limits, while a parallel, higher-risk market of foreign platforms and P2P trading exists.

Deposit & Trading Status

There is no supported deposit or trading path for Polymarket from Iran.

  • Polymarket does not allow Iranian users under US sanctions.
  • There is no verified local exchange offering an IRR-to-USDC on-ramp that connects to Polymarket.
  • Even if an on-ramp existed, the platform’s block-complete status for Iran means deposits and trades would not be permitted.

Residents should be aware that attempting to access US-sanctioned, US-connected financial services from Iran can carry legal risk under US and international sanctions frameworks.

Tax Considerations

Iran has no established framework for taxing prediction-market profits, and the US sanctions overlay makes reporting largely theoretical for Iranian users.

More broadly, Iran’s tax authority and the Central Bank have discussed taxing crypto activities, but there is no specific, reliably verifiable tax treatment for crypto or prediction-market gains in Iran today. The Iranian rial (IRR) remains the official currency and suffers from persistent inflation, but any tax treatment of crypto in Iran is evolving and should be reviewed with a local adviser — nothing specific is reliably verifiable.

Getting Started

At this time there is no supported way to get started with Polymarket from Iran:

  1. Understand the block — Iran is block-complete (OFAC), the most restrictive Polymarket status.
  2. Be aware of sanctions — US OFAC sanctions prohibit US-connected platforms from serving Iran.
  3. Consider legal risk — Attempting to route around the block carries potential sanctions exposure.

If you believe your situation falls under a permitted exception or you are a non-Iran resident, review the Country Availability Checker and the Polymarket country guides for the latest status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polymarket available in Iran?
No. Polymarket fully blocks Iran. Iran is on the US Treasury OFAC comprehensive sanctions list, and Polymarket lists the country as blocked completely — no orders can be placed and existing positions cannot be closed. This is a sanctions-driven block, not an ordinary geoblock.
Why is Polymarket blocked in Iran?
Iran is subject to comprehensive US sanctions administered by OFAC under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR, 31 CFR Part 560). OFAC sanctions generally prohibit virtually all transactions by US persons and US-connected platforms with Iran. Because a fully blocked country is not government geoblocking but platform compliance with US sanctions, Polymarket's block-complete status means no account activity at all.
Is 'blocked' the same as 'close-only' on Polymarket?
No. Close-only countries (accounts can close existing positions but not open new ones) are a different category. Iran is 'blocked' — Polymarket's most restrictive status, applied to OFAC-sanctioned countries. Accounts tied to Iran cannot trade, cannot deposit or withdraw, and existing positions cannot be closed.
Is cryptocurrency legal in Iran?
Iran has taken a comparatively active stance on crypto. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) recognized crypto mining as a legal economic sector in August 2019, and Iran has since pursued its own regulatory framework, including a January 2025 directive formalizing crypto market rules and requiring licenses for participants. However, using cryptocurrency for payments is banned, and Iranian banks are prohibited from dealing in cryptocurrencies — so domestic crypto activity is heavily restricted and largely miners- and P2P-focused. US sanctions nonetheless mean most US-based platforms and exchanges cannot onboard Iranian users.
Can I deposit on Polymarket from Iran?
No. Because Polymarket blocks Iran completely, there is no supported deposit or trading path, and no verified local exchange offers an IRR-to-USDC on-ramp. Anyone in Iran attempting access should understand that US OFAC sanctions prohibit US-connected platforms from serving Iranian users, and using them could carry legal risk.