The ICRC started its activities in Iran in 1977 and maintained its presence in the country during the Iraq-Iran war. The ICRC’s activities during Iraq-Iran war were mainly in visiting the Prisoners f War (POWs), delivering assistance to POWs and displaced people, transmitting the Red Cross Messages (RCMs), and acting as neutral intermediary for the repatriation of sick and wounded. Overall, from the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war till now, the ICRC has been involved in the repatriation of more than 110,000 Prisoners of War and human remains.

Iran-Iraq conflict, Repatriation of the wounded and sick Iranian prisoners of war, under the aegis of the ICRC, 1990 Tehran airport

After some years of limited presence, the ICRC expanded its activities in Iran in 2001, mainly to support its humanitarian operations in Afghanistan and later then in Iraq.

Between 2001 to 2010, the ICRC opened and ran offices in Mashhad, Orumiyeh and Kermanshah to provide logistical support to its operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Today, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ICRC continues to help address the humanitarian consequences of the 1980–88 Iraq-Iran war in relation to the issue of missing persons, tracing missing people in close partnership with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and other Iranian organizations and bodies.

The ICRC fosters the acceptance of humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and its compatibility with Islamic jurisprudence.

The ICRC supports local initiatives to mitigate risks related to people’s health and their exposure to mines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), supports access to health care and physical rehabilitation services for Afghan migrants.

The ICRC as one of the 3 components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement works along with its partners International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and the IRCS.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a global humanitarian network of 80 million people that helps those facing disaster, conflict, and health and social problems. It consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.