The Iran menâÂÂs national basketball team (Persian: êÃÂààÃÂàèóéêèçààñïçàçÃÂñçÃÂ) represents Iran in international basketball, and are governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Basketball Federation (IRIBF).
Iran is one of AsiaâÂÂs most successful federations. Since the turn of the century, theyâÂÂve won three FIBA Asia Cup tournaments, while also claiming a silver and two bronze medals at the competition. Iran has also qualified for every edition of the FIBA World Cup since 2010, and have participated in two Olympic Games (2008, 2020).
In 1948, the Iran national basketball team participated in the 1948 London Olympics, their first appearance in the competition. In 1951, Iran participated in the first Asian Games held in Delhi and placed third in Asia. In 1959, Iran participated in the EuroBasket held in Turkey.
Placed in the dreaded "Group of Death" alongside China, the Philippines, and Jordan, the Iranians won all three group matches to make it to the next round.
In the quarterfinals, Iran went 2âÂÂ1, to make it to semifinals, following victories over Chinese Taipei and Qatar, and then routed Kazakhstan, 75âÂÂ62, in the semifinals.
The Iranians then beat Lebanon 74âÂÂ69, with Hamed Haddadi scoring 31 points. Not only did it avenge an 82âÂÂ60 defeat in the quarterfinals, they also became the first Western Asian team to win the tournament, and thus make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In being crowned the 2007 Asian Champions, the Iranians qualified for the 2008 Beijing games for the first time in 60 years. The Olympic experience led to a flurry of opportunities for the Iranian players, as they traveled across the world in preparation for the games, including a visit to the US.They also Defeat Serbia (72âÂÂ70) before the start of the tournament in 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball.Iran was placed in Group A, along with Lithuania, Russia, Argentina, Croatia, and Australia, suffering five defeats. The Olympic experience opened doors for players such as Hamed Haddadi, and Iranian captain Samad Nikkhah Bahrami to play in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and sign in the top French League.
Haddadi finished with averages of 16.6 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, and 2.6 blocks per game, leading the entire tournament in the latter two categories. His highlight performance was in the game against Argentina when he put up 21 points and 16 rebounds.
Winning the FIBA Asia Championship 2009 at Tianjin, China, was a sign on continuing progress in basketball.Iran won all three group matches against Chinese Taipei, Kuwait, Uzbekistan to make it to the next round.In the second round Iran Won Japan, Philippines and South Korea.In the Quarterfinals Iran wins Qatar and in Semifinals Iran wins Jordan.Iran defeated China, by a score of 70âÂÂ52 in the final.
Iran's second consecutive FIBA Asia Championship gave them their first ever FIBA World Championship berth, at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.The team lost against USA, Brazil, Croatia, Slovenia and one win against Tunisia.Iran finished 1âÂÂ4 in Group B, good for 19th place.
Winning the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship at Manila, Philippines, was a sign that the Iranian team has forgot the tragedy of their loss to Jordan in last tournament, 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, and reclaimed the top place in the FIBA Asia. Iran defeated the charged up hosts Philippines by an 85âÂÂ71 win in the final. Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, who played a stellar role in Iran's triumph at the 27th FIBA Asia Championship, became the most accomplished individual player of the competition winning two awards, including that of the MVP. Iran was the only team with two awards in the All Stars with Oshin Sahakian named for the Power Forward position.
In the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Iran national basketball team was grouped with Spain, Egypt, Serbia, Brazil and France in Group A.Iran national basketball team, in its first meeting in the opening game, faced Spain, the world's second-ranked team, and succumbed to defeat.On the sixth day of the 2014 FIBA World Cup and in its last match of the preliminary stage, Iran faced the French and succumbed to defeat, and finally ranked 21st with 4 losses and one win against Egypt. Iran lost against France and Serbia with close results.
In the 2019 FIBA World Cup of China, which was held in Asia for the first time, the iran team was grouped in Group C with the teams of Spain, Puerto Rico and Tunisia.The iran team lost all three games and competed with the Angolan and Philippine teams to rank 17âÂÂ32 (for the first time in this period, 32 teams participated) and won both matches, and thanks to the goal difference, they are better than China, which had lost against Nigeria, went to the Tokyo Olympics as the best Asian team.
Iran is in group A of the competitions along with USA, France, and Czech.Iranian menâÂÂs basketball team conceded a 78âÂÂ84 defeat against Czech at the opening match of the basketball competitions of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.In their second game at the Olympics, Iranian basketball players lost to the USA 66âÂÂ120.IranâÂÂs national basketball team finished the campaign in the 2020 Olympics with a 79âÂÂ62 loss against France at Saitama Super Arena.Iran, in its three appearance at the Olympics, conceded three defeats in Group A.
Iran was only one of three teams at the World Cup 2023 to go home without a win. Finishing bottom in Group G after resounding defeats to Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire and Spain. Further disappointment was to follow in the classification games against France and Lebanon. After the final play of their campaign, one man took centre stage, Hamed Haddadi, bidding a final farewell after 4 consecutive World Cup runs with Iran. At the other end of his career is Mohammad Amini. The 18-years-old who plays for AS Monaco Basket, played 30 minutes a game and was Iran's top tournament scorer.
Individual Awards
Roster for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
1948 London Ashtari, Ehsasi, Esfandiary, Hashemi, Karandish, Mohtadi, Rafati, Sadeghi, Salabi, Shademan, Soroudi, Soudipour, Zadegan, Coach:ÃÂ Kazem Rambari
2008 Beijing 4ÃÂ Doraghi, 5ÃÂ Amini, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Davarpanah, 9ÃÂ Zandi, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Sahakian, 13ÃÂ Nabipour, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi: Coach.ÃÂ Rajko Toroman
2020 Tokyo 4ÃÂ Vahedi, 5ÃÂ Jalalpoor, 7ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, 8ÃÂ Davarpanah, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Nikkhah Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, 17ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 20ÃÂ Rostampour, 23ÃÂ Geramipoor, 41ÃÂ Kazemi, 88ÃÂ Yakhchali, Coach:ÃÂ Mehran Shahintab
2010 turkey 4ÃÂ Nabipour, 5ÃÂ Davoudi, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Veisi, 9ÃÂ Zandi, 10ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Kazemi, 13ÃÂ Kardoust, 14ÃÂ Davarpanah, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Veselin MatiÃÂ
2014 Spain 4ÃÂ Arghavan, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 6ÃÂ Yakhchali, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Kazemi, 9ÃÂ Zangeneh, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Kardoust, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Mehmed BeÃÂiroviÃÂ
2019 China 1ÃÂ Mozafari, 4ÃÂ Mirzaei, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 6ÃÂ Hosseinzadeh, 7ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, 8ÃÂ Yakhchali, 12ÃÂ Zangeneh, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, 20ÃÂ Rostampour, 23ÃÂ Geramipoor, Coach:ÃÂ Mehran Shahintab
2023 Philippines, Japan, Indonesia 3ÃÂ Vahedi, 4ÃÂ Mirzaei, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 6ÃÂ Amini, 7ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 8ÃÂ Yakhchali, 10ÃÂ Girgoorian, 14ÃÂ Kazemi, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, 17ÃÂ Aghajanpour, 30ÃÂ Agha Miri, 32ÃÂ Aliakbari, Coach:ÃÂ Hakan Demir
2003 China 4ÃÂ Tajik, 5ÃÂ Davari, 6ÃÂ Veisi, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ S. Bahrami, 9ÃÂ Zandi, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Askarnejad, 13ÃÂ Ahmadian, 14ÃÂ Rouzbahani, 15ÃÂ Afradi, Coach:ÃÂ Mostafa Hashemi
2005 Qatar 4ÃÂ Tajik, 5ÃÂ A. Bahrami, 6ÃÂ Amini, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ S. Bahrami, 9ÃÂ Zandi, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Rouzbahani, 13ÃÂ Shahsavand, 14ÃÂ Tabeshnia, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Mohammad Mehdi Izadpanah
2007 Japan 4ÃÂ Doraghi, 5ÃÂ Amini, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ A. Bahrami, 9ÃÂ Akbari, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Rouzbahani, 12ÃÂ Sahakian, 13ÃÂ Nabipour, 14ÃÂ S. Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Rajko Toroman
2009 China 4ÃÂ Tajik, 5ÃÂ Amini, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Davoudi, 9ÃÂ Akbari, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Sahakian, 13ÃÂ Doraghi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Veselin MatiÃÂ
2011 China 4ÃÂ Davarpanah, 5ÃÂ Davoudi, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Atashi, 9ÃÂ Kazemi, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Kardoust, 13ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Veselin MatiÃÂ
2013 Philippines 4ÃÂ Jamshidi, 5ÃÂ Davoudi, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Veisi, 9ÃÂ Sahakian, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Kardoust, 13ÃÂ Arghavan, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Mehmed BeÃÂiroviÃÂ
2015 China 4ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 5ÃÂ Yakhchali, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Davarpanah, 9ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Kardoust, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Dirk Bauermann
2017 Lebanon 4ÃÂ Mirzaei, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 6ÃÂ Aslani, 7ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 8ÃÂ Yakhchali, 9ÃÂ Dalirzahan, 10ÃÂ Niktash, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Arghavan, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Kazemi, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Mehran Hatami
2022 Indonesia 1ÃÂ Mozafari, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 7ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, 8ÃÂ Yakhchali, 10ÃÂ Yousof Vand, 12ÃÂ Zangeneh, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Kazemi, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, 17ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 23ÃÂ Pazrofteh, 71ÃÂ Aghajanpour, Coach:ÃÂ Saeed Armaghani
1959 Turkey 3àSalabi, 4àKamali, 5àMeshun, 6àAgakuzik, 7àUfervizi, 9àTaçbehs, 10àAvendi, 11àVeisi, 12àVafai, 13àRezi, Coach:àHassan Nikli
1951 New Delhi Khaleghpour, Mashhoun, Masoumi, Mokhberi, Oshar, Razi, Safiyar, Salabi, Soroudi, Soudipour, Coach:àâÂÂ
2006 Doha 4ÃÂ Tajik, 5ÃÂ Amini, 6ÃÂ Veisi, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ S. Bahrami, 9ÃÂ Zandi, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Honardoust, 12ÃÂ A. Bahrami, 13ÃÂ Ahmadian, 14ÃÂ Nabipour, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach: Fred Oniga
2010 Guangzhou 4ÃÂ Amini, 5ÃÂ Davoudi, 6ÃÂ Davari, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Davarpanah, 9ÃÂ Sahakian, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sohrabnejad, 12ÃÂ Jamshidi, 13ÃÂ Kardoust, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Doraghi, Coach: Veselin MatiÃÂ
2014 Incheon 4ÃÂ Arghavan, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 6ÃÂ Yakhchali, 7ÃÂ Kamrani, 8ÃÂ Zangeneh, 9ÃÂ Aslani, 10ÃÂ Afagh, 11ÃÂ Sahakian, 12ÃÂ Kardoust, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, Coach:ÃÂ Mehmed BeÃÂiroviÃÂ
2018 Jakarta 4ÃÂ Mirzaei, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 7ÃÂ Davoudi, 8ÃÂ Yakhchali, 10ÃÂ Dalirzahan, 12ÃÂ Arghavan, 13ÃÂ Jamshidi, 14ÃÂ Bahrami, 15ÃÂ Haddadi, 17ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 41ÃÂ Kazemi, 77ÃÂ Hassanzadeh, Coach:ÃÂ Mehran Hatami
2022 Hangzhou 1ÃÂ Shahrian, 3ÃÂ Vahedi, 4ÃÂ Mirzaei, 5ÃÂ Mashayekhi, 7ÃÂ Rezaeifar, 10ÃÂ Girgoorian, 11ÃÂ Gholizadeh, 14ÃÂ Kazemi, 17ÃÂ Aghajanpour, 21ÃÂ Torabi, 23ÃÂ Pazirofteh, 32ÃÂ Aliakbari, Coach:ÃÂ Hakan Demir
Note: The following list may not be complete
Center Hamed Haddadi was the first Iranian to play in the NBA. Although he went undrafted in 2004, Haddadi signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008. He appeared in more than 150 games for the Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns.
On the international stage, Haddadi won medals at the FIBA Asia Cup, the Asian Games, and the FIBA Asia Challenge. At the FIBA Asia Cup, he won five medals, including three golds. Haddadi is one of only three players to win the FIBA Asia Cup MVP award since 2007, taking home four of the seven MVP trophies during that run.
At age 38, Haddadi made his final World Cup appearance at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. He was named to the Iranian squad in 2010, 2014, and 2019, and was named to Iran's extended roster for 2023.
The Iran Basketball Federation retired Hamed Haddadi's number 15 jersey on 21 February 2025, ahead of an Asia Cup qualifying game against India. It was the first jersey number retirement in Iran for any sport.
2008âÂÂ2009: Merooj
2010âÂÂpresent: Peak