Iran has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since 1948, except for 1980 and 1984 due to political boycotts.

Iran has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games on several occasions since 1956.

Iran participated in 9 Summer Olympics and gained 4 gold medals before the 1979 Revolution, and participated in 10 Summer Olympics and won 23 gold medals after the revolution.

Iranian athletes have won a total of 88 Summer Olympic medals, all in wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, athletics, shooting, and karate.

Iran's National Olympic Committee was founded in 1947.