Area Code 86 – Markazi

Overview of Markazi Province and Area Code 86

Area code 86 is the geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Markazi Province of Iran, under the international country calling code +98. This region, located in west-central Iran, is administratively centered on the city of Arak, which serves as the provincial capital. The code covers all landline telephone numbers within the province, including major urban centers such as Arak, Saveh, Khomein, Mahallat, Delijan, and Tafresh. As a geographic code, it routes calls to fixed PSTN lines based on their physical location, and it is not used for mobile or nomadic VoIP services.

Dialing Formats and Usage

For callers within Iran, the local dialing format requires the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. Thus, a typical number in Arak would be dialed as 086-XXX XXXX (where X represents the local subscriber digits). For international callers, the trunk prefix is omitted, and the number is dialed as +98 86 XXX XXXX or +9886XXXXXXXX in E.164 international format. The total length of a complete international number is 12 digits, including the country code but excluding the leading zero.

It is important to note that Iran has implemented an overlay plan in some regions, but for Markazi, the 86 code remains the sole geographic code for the province. No overlay codes are currently active, so all fixed-line numbers in the province share the same area code. When dialing from a mobile phone within Iran, the same trunk prefix (0) is used, but the call is routed as a national call, and no additional charges apply beyond standard mobile tariffs.

Technical and Regulatory Considerations

The assignment and management of area code 86 fall under the jurisdiction of the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Iran, in accordance with the national numbering plan aligned with ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The code is exclusively for geographic fixed-line services, and number portability is not yet universally implemented for fixed lines in Iran. As a result, the area code generally reflects the physical location of the line. For businesses and residents, it is essential to use the correct format when publishing contact details to ensure seamless connectivity for both domestic and international callers.

For international callers, the plus sign (+) represents the international access prefix, which varies by country (e.g., 00 in most European countries, 011 in the United States). Therefore, from the US, a call to Arak would be dialed as 011 98 86 XXX XXXX. Understanding these dialing protocols ensures efficient and error-free communication with Markazi Province.