You’ve probably driven past it a dozen times without realizing what it is. On a prime stretch of Massachusetts Avenue, right in the heart of Washington D.C.'s Embassy Row, sits a stunning complex that looks like a ghost ship frozen in time. The turquoise tiles glimmer in the sun, and the architecture screams 1950s modernist-meets-Persian-palace. This is the former Iran embassy in DC, and honestly, it’s one of the weirdest real estate situations in the United States.
It’s been empty since 1980. That’s forty-six years.
While other embassies are buzzing with diplomats and visa seekers, the buildings at 3003 and 3005 Massachusetts Ave NW remain silent. But they aren't abandoned in the way you’d think. There are no "keep out" signs or overgrown weeds. In fact, the grass is perfectly mowed. The windows are clean. The lights even turn on at night. It’s a bizarre, high-stakes game of "diplomatic holding pattern" that costs American taxpayers and the State Department a lot of effort to maintain.
Why the lights are still on at 3005 Massachusetts Ave NW
Basically, international law is a trip. Even though the U.S. and Iran haven't had formal diplomatic relations since the 1979 hostage crisis, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations dictates that host countries must protect the property of a foreign mission, even if relations are severed.
The State Department acts as a sort of reluctant landlord. They maintain the exterior, keep the pipes from freezing, and ensure the structure doesn't crumble. Why? Because we have an embassy building in Tehran, too. It’s a "you scratch my back, I don’t bulldoze your house" kind of deal. If the U.S. let the Iranian embassy fall into disrepair or seized it, you can bet the American embassy in Tehran would be turned into a parking lot the next morning.
The party house of the 70s
It's kinda hard to imagine now, but in the 1970s, the Iran embassy in DC was the hottest ticket in town. Under Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi, the place was legendary for hedonism. We're talking mountains of fresh Caspian caviar, literal fountains of Dom Pérignon, and a guest list that would make a modern influencer weep.
Elizabeth Taylor was a regular. So were Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, and Barbara Walters.
Zahedi was a flamboyant host who believed that the best way to secure American support for the Shah was to throw the best parties in the Western Hemisphere. He’d lead conga lines through the halls while tuxedo-clad musicians played. The interior was a fever dream of mirrored ceilings, silk rugs, and intricate blue mosaic work.
Today, those mirrors still hang there. They’re just reflecting dust and shadows.
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What happened to the stuff inside?
When the revolution hit in 1979 and Jimmy Carter officially broke off ties in April 1980, the diplomats were given 24 hours to pack up and leave. They couldn’t take the furniture. They couldn't take the art.
Reports from the few people allowed inside over the decades—like photographer Eric Parnes in 2013—describe a time capsule. There are portraits of the Shah and his wife still hanging on the walls. There are 1970s-era telephones, stacks of diplomatic stationery, and even half-empty bottles of booze from the final days of the mission. It’s eerie. It’s like the people just stepped out for a smoke and never came back.
Where do you go if you actually need a visa?
If you’re actually looking for the Iran embassy in DC to get a passport renewed or a visa for a trip to Shiraz, don’t go to Massachusetts Avenue. You’ll just be staring at a locked gate.
Instead, you have to head over to the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It’s located inside the Pakistani Embassy. Specifically, they operate out of a nondescript office building at 1250 23rd St NW, Suite 200.
It’s not grand. It’s not covered in turquoise tiles. It’s basically a functional office with a lot of paperwork and a security guard. This is where the actual business of being a "virtual" embassy happens. Pakistan serves as the "protecting power" for Iran in the U.S., while Switzerland does the same for the U.S. in Tehran.
Navigating the Interests Section (The "Daftar")
- Location: 1250 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20037.
- Purpose: Passports, birth certificates, visas, and legalizing documents.
- Vibe: Very "government office." Bring your patience.
- Digital presence: They use a site called daftar.org for most of their forms.
The legal "Blocked Property" trap
You might wonder why the U.S. doesn't just sell the building and give the money to victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Well, some people have tried. There have been numerous court cases over the years where plaintiffs with judgments against Iran have eyed that prime real estate.
However, the U.S. government usually steps in to block those seizures. It’s not because they like the Iranian government; it's because they like the principle of diplomatic immunity. If you start selling off foreign embassies to pay for court cases, then American embassies around the world become fair game for any local court with a grudge.
The building is technically "blocked property." It belongs to Iran, but they can't use it, sell it, or touch it. We hold the keys, but we can't move in.
The "Other" Iranian properties in DC
The main chancery isn't the only ghost house. There are actually several other properties in the D.C. area that belong to the Iranian government:
- The Ambassador’s Residence: Right next door to the chancery. A massive Georgian-style mansion that once hosted the Shah.
- Military Attaché’s Residence: 3410 Garfield Street NW.
- Cultural Affairs Residence: 2954 Upton Street NW.
The State Department actually rents out some of the smaller residential properties owned by the Iranian government. The money goes into a blocked account used to pay for the maintenance of the main embassy building. It’s a self-sustaining loop of diplomatic purgatory.
What most people get wrong about the status today
A common misconception is that the building is "abandoned." It’s really not. It’s "preserved."
If you walk by today, you might see a white van from a maintenance contractor or a gardener trimming the hedges. The U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division also keeps a very close eye on the perimeter. You can’t just walk up and peek in the windows without someone in a dark suit asking what you’re doing.
Another myth is that it's a "spy hub." While many people in D.C. love a good conspiracy theory, there hasn't been an Iranian official inside that building in nearly half a century. Any "spying" happening in Washington certainly isn't happening from a shuttered building on Embassy Row.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re interested in the Iran embassy in DC, here’s how to actually engage with this piece of history without getting detained:
- Take the Walk: Start at the Islamic Center of Washington and walk south on Massachusetts Ave. The embassy is impossible to miss. Take note of the "Lion and Sun" motifs—the symbol of the old monarchy—which are still visible on the metalwork.
- Look for the Tilework: The Safavid-style mosaics are genuinely world-class. Even after decades of neglect, the colors are incredibly vivid.
- Don't try to go inside: Seriously. It’s federal property under State Department protection. You will be arrested immediately.
- Check the Pakistan Embassy: If you need actual consular services, skip the ghost house and go to the 23rd Street location. Make sure you check the daftar.org website first, as they have very specific hours and require appointments for most things.
- Research the Art: Look up Eric Parnes’ photo series "The Persian Quarter." It’s the best way to see what the interior looks like without a security clearance.
The Iran embassy in DC stands as a silent monument to a relationship that went from "best friends" to "arch-rivals" in the blink of an eye. Until the day the two governments decide to talk again, it remains a beautiful, turquoise-colored frozen moment in time.
If you are planning a visit to the area, combine your walk with a stop at the Vice President’s Residence at the Naval Observatory, which is just a few blocks away. It provides a stark contrast between the active power of the U.S. government and the dormant, decorative shell of what used to be Iran’s most important outpost in the West.