Tehran has expanded a ban on dog walking throughout 18 cities in Iran, in a move which mirrors the 2019 police order barring walking pups in the capital, citing an alleged risk to public order, health and safety.
In addition to no longer being able to walk dogs, the transportation of dogs in vehicles has also been banned.
"Dog walking is a threat to public health, peace and comfort," Abbas Najafi, prosecutor of the western city of Hamedan, told state media.
Despite dog ownership being heavily frowned upon by Islamic authorities in Iran, BBC News reported that owning man’s best friend has become increasingly popular among Iranian youth - seeing it as a form of rebellion against the restrictions imposed by the regime.
Tehran's war against dogs
Islamic scholars claim that dog saliva is ‘najis’ or spiritually unclean, according to the Guardian.
In 2014, lawmakers failed to pass a bill which would have seen dog walkers fined or flogged for their strolls.
Isfaham and Kerman are among the latest to ban pooch walking, according to AFP.
Cities including Isfahan and Kerman have introduced bans in recent days, according to news agency AFP.
People violating the restriction have been arrested in the past and their pets confiscated, according to BBC News.