Sharks in Iran

Sharks swimming in Iranian waters have caused plenty of terror in the hearts of the country’s inhabitants. Mainly thanks to the notorious bull shark, which can live in fresh and saltwater habitats and has swum upstream into rivers.

However, it is essential to remember that sharks do not naturally prey on humans and only bite out of curiosity. Unfortunately, even an exploratory shark bite can end up being fatal.

Sharks in Iran

List of the Different Types of Sharks in Iran

Species Maximum Size Aggressiveness
Blacktip Shark 5-8 feet Moderately aggressive
Blue Shark 6-11 feet Not aggressive
Bull Shark 7-12 feet Highly aggressive
Great White Shark 11-16 feet Highly aggressive
Oceanic Whitetip Shark 10-13 feet Highly Aggressive
Sandbar Shark 5.5-8.5 feet Not aggressive
Shortfin Mako Shark 6.5-9.5 feet Highly aggressive
Smooth Hammerhead Shark 8-12 feet Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous)
Smoothtooth Blacktip Shark 3.9-4.3 feet Not aggressive
Spinner Shark 7 -8 feet Not aggressive
Spot-tail Shark 5-5.3 feet Not aggressive
Tiger Shark 10-14 feet Highly aggressive
Whale Shark 18-32 feet Not aggressive

FAQs

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Great whites have been known to swim in the Persian Gulf, though encounters are rare.

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There have been 28 shark attacks in Iran, with 13 being fatal. Most of these attacks are believed to have been perpetrated by bull sharks, as several took place in freshwater habitats. However, the exact details of most of these attacks are scarce, and the last one occurred in 1987.

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