Area Code 38 – Chahar-mahal and Bakhtiari

Overview of Area Code +98 38

Area code 38 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the Chahar-mahal and Bakhtiari Province in Iran. This geographic code is assigned under the country calling code +98, in accordance with the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. The province is located in the southwestern part of the country, and its administrative capital is Shahr-e Kord. Other major cities and towns served by this code include Borujen, Lordegan, Farrokhshahr, and Ben.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in Chahar-mahal and Bakhtiari from within Iran, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 38, and then the local subscriber number. The local numbers typically consist of 7 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length 10 digits (excluding the trunk prefix). For example, a local number in Shahr-e Kord might be formatted as:

• National dialing (within Iran): 0 38 3 123 4567
• International dialing (from abroad): +98 38 3 123 4567

Note that the leading 0 of the trunk prefix is omitted when dialing from outside Iran; only the country code +98 and the area code 38 are used.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The Chahar-mahal and Bakhtiari province is divided into several counties, all of which fall under the 38 area code. This includes the high-altitude regions of the Zagros mountains, known for their natural scenery and agricultural production. The province is home to a mix of Persian, Turkic, and Bakhtiari communities, and the local telecommunications infrastructure is managed by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI).

Overlays and Numbering Changes

As of the latest ITU-T operational bulletin, there are no overlay codes or upcoming changes announced for the 38 area code. Subscribers within the province do not need to dial the area code for local calls within the same exchange area, but they must include it when calling from other regions of Iran or from abroad.

Instructions for Callers

For local callers (within the province): To call a number in the same city, you may only need to dial the local subscriber number. However, to call a different city within the province, you must dial the trunk prefix 0 and the area code 38 before the local number.

For international callers: Dial your country's international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), then 98 (Iran's country code), followed by 38 and the local subscriber number. Do not dial the leading 0.

For example, to call a number in Borujen from the United States, you would dial: 011 98 38 4 222 3344.