Mehrabad International Airport

Mehrabad International Airport is located in Tehran, Iran. Established in 1938 as an airfield for aviation clubs, the site was originally designated Base-J and served as the station for the Imperial Iranian Army's first armored and mechanized artillery forces. During World War II, the airport functioned as a stopover for the U.S. Air Transport Command. It was formally recognized as an air force base in 1949 upon Iran joining the International Civil Aviation Organization. The first asphalt-paved runway and Terminal 1 were completed in 1955. In April 1956, the base began receiving Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star trainers, followed by Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighters in 1957. The military assumed control of the facility in January 1979. During the Iran-Iraq War, the airport was targeted by Iraqi air strikes in September 1980.

The facility is operated by the Iran Airports Company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Iranian Police Aviation. Since the transfer of international flight operations to Imam Khomeini International Airport in 2007, Mehrabad primarily handles domestic traffic and government aviation. It serves as a base for the IRIAF and hosts the head offices of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization, Iran Air, and the Iranian Airports Company.

Infrastructure consists of four active terminals. Terminal 1, a registered national historical monument, and Terminal 2 facilitate domestic operations for multiple carriers. Terminals 4 and 6 function as departure and arrival points for additional domestic routes. The base is capable of accommodating various aircraft types and includes military jet hangars. The site is accessible via the Makhsus Karaj Expressway and two Tehran Metro stations.