An Analysis of Iran’s Legislative Criminal Policy in Preventing Land-Related Offenses in the Field of Roads and Urban Development

Land grabbing, as one of the most significant crimes related to property and the illegal use of land, has created widespread problems in Iran’s road and urban development sector. This offense leads to disorder in land allocation, increased administrative corruption, environmental degradation, and disruption of urban and construction planning. Therefore, legislative criminal policy, as the main instrument for combating land grabbing, holds particular importance. Legislative criminal policy in this field encompasses the formulation of comprehensive laws, determination of deterrent punishments, establishment of supervisory mechanisms, and reform of judicial procedures. In Iran, although legal provisions exist to confront land grabbing, multiple challenges—including legal ambiguities, insufficient penalties, weaknesses in the implementation of justice, and deficiencies in property registration—have impeded the full realization of the policy’s goals. For effective prevention of land grabbing, in addition to legal reforms, the utilization of modern technologies such as digital cadastral systems and satellite imagery, enhanced coordination among responsible institutions, and strengthened public participation are essential. Moreover, addressing the social and cultural dimensions of this crime and raising public awareness play a key role in the success of criminal policies.