Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed.
Dog ownership has been frowned upon in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with dogs viewed as "unclean" by authorities and a legacy of Western cultural influence.
But despite efforts to discourage it, dog ownership is rising, particularly among young people, and it is viewed as a form of rebellion against the restrictive Iranian regime.
Cities including Isfahan and Kerman have introduced bans in recent days, according to news agency AFP.
