Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Artificial Intelligence Governance in Iran: Challenges of Public Regulation and Redefining the Role of the State in the Digital Era

Document Type : Review Article

Author
Ph.d. of Public Policy, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.416606.2909
Abstract
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has confronted governance systems and public policymaking with new challenges and has increased the need to redefine the state’s role in regulating this technology. The main question of this study is what challenges and deficiencies characterize AI governance in Iran and how the state can redefine its role from mere developmentalism toward effective, coordinated, and rights-based regulation. The central argument is that effective AI governance in Iran requires a transition from a fragmented and sectoral approach to a comprehensive, institutionalized framework grounded in the protection of citizens’ rights. This study aims to provide a policy analysis of AI governance in Iran and examine the state’s regulatory role through a descriptive-analytical method based on documentary research. The findings show that AI governance in Iran suffers from institutional fragmentation, lack of comprehensive regulation, weak data governance, insufficient protection of citizens’ rights, and the dominance of a development-oriented approach.
Keywords

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