Area Code 23 – Semnan province

Geographic Overview

The +98 23 country code and area code combination is assigned to the Semnan province in Iran. This geographic area code covers the provincial capital, Semnan city, as well as surrounding towns and districts within the province. Semnan province is located in the northern part of Iran, along the southern slopes of the Alborz mountain range, and serves as a key transit point between Tehran and the northeastern regions of the country.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in Semnan from within Iran, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 23, and then the local subscriber number. The local numbers in Semnan typically consist of 8 digits, making the complete domestic dialing sequence: 0 23 XXXX XXXX.

For international callers, the format requires the Iranian country code +98, followed by the area code 23 (without the leading zero), and then the local subscriber number. Thus, an international call to Semnan would be dialed as: +98 23 XXXX XXXX.

Calling Instructions

• Local callers (within Semnan): If the local network uses closed dialing, you may dial the 8-digit subscriber number directly. However, for calls from other provinces, always use the full domestic format: 0 23 XXXX XXXX.
• International callers: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then 98, then 23, and the local number. Example: +98 23 1234 5678.

Administrative and Jurisdictional Details

The Semnan province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, bordered by Tehran province to the west, Mazandaran to the north, and Khorasan provinces to the east. The area code 23 is exclusively assigned to this province, and no overlays or additional area codes are currently in use for the region. The province includes several counties, such as Semnan, Shahroud, Damghan, Garmsar, and Bastam, all of which fall under the 23 area code.

Telecommunication services in Semnan are provided by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI), with fixed-line infrastructure supporting both traditional PSTN and VoIP services. As with other geographic codes in Iran, numbers under 23 are primarily used for fixed-line services, although some may be assigned to wireless local loop (WLL) operators.

Practical Considerations

When dialing Semnan numbers from abroad, be mindful of time zone differences (Iran Standard Time, UTC+3:30) and potential changes during daylight saving periods. Also, ensure that you have the correct local number length, as some older numbers may have fewer digits; if you encounter difficulties, contact your service provider or the local directory assistance.