Iran's postal service has continued operating nationwide without interruption despite significant infrastructure damage and casualties among staff during what officials have termed the “Third Imposed War.” Mohammad Ahmadi, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Technology and chief executive of the National Post Company, detailed the challenges faced and measures taken to maintain service amid ongoing conflict.

According to Ahmadi, 56 post offices across more than 14 provinces were either destroyed or severely damaged in the initial phase of hostilities, necessitating extensive reconstruction efforts. Despite this, postal operations have remained continuous. The resilience of the postal network, reliance on domestic internet capabilities amid tightening internet restrictions, and the dedicated efforts of postal workers were credited for sustaining service under difficult conditions, including deliveries along urban, intercity, rural, and remote routes.

The war has claimed the lives of three postal employees. Two were killed at their workplaces in Divandarreh and Azarshahr, located in East Azarbaijan Province, while the third employee died at home in Tehran.

In response to disruptions caused by the suspension of commercial flights, Iran’s National Post Company submitted a force majeure notification to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to suspend outbound international consignments to Iran. Customers with outbound parcels were contacted to arrange returns, although inbound international shipments have continued to be delivered. Coordination with other countries allowed the establishment of overland transport routes where feasible to facilitate ground deliveries.

Ahmadi highlighted efforts to support the digital economy during the crisis, ensuring e-commerce activities were sustained without interruption. Security measures across the postal network were strengthened to prevent misuse, including smuggling and security violations, with continuous parcel monitoring resulting in the detection of several infractions.

New services were introduced to adapt to wartime conditions. In Tehran, a door-to-door parcel pickup service was launched, permitting individuals and e-commerce merchants to request parcel collection via the company’s 193 hotline, reducing the need for in-person visits to post offices. Additionally, during the Nowruz holiday travel period, a “Redelivery” service enabled customers to electronically reroute parcels or update delivery addresses through postal centers.

Special priority was given to delivering approximately 300 cases daily of specialized infant formula for sick infants across the country, reflecting ongoing efforts to support patients and ensure the distribution of medicines and critical supplies.

Iran Post’s 24/7 customer care center managed 72,436 calls during the conflict period, while its online assistant, known as “Baleh,” responded to over 240,000 messages.

Separately, Ahmadi announced that three commemorative stamp designs—“Leader Martyr,” “Minab School,” and “Nowruz 1405”—were approved during the first stamp council meeting of the year. These stamps are expected to be issued and distributed to the 190 member states of the Universal Postal Union.