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.
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
1. Do great white sharks live in the waters around Iran?
Great whites have been known to swim in the Persian Gulf, though encounters are rare.
2. Have there been shark attacks in Iran?
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.
