The philosophy of establishment of Iran's free trade zones, from empirical view point, derived from the following main objectives:
1. Acceptance of the export development-strategy instead of import substitution-policy.
2. The strategy of application of foreign trade and business as a driving force, causing further economic development.
3. Gaining a relative superiority in order to attain the mentioned goals.

Consistent efforts had already been made to create an appropriate atmosphere as well as suitable conditions within the national economy, by lifting unnecessary bureaucratic regulations, relaxing commercial and business transactions, and thus providing safe and beneficial circumstances for the attraction of foreign investments in free trade zones. Accordingly, the ratified free trade and industrial zone's legislation of 1993 determined the official free zones as follows:

1. Chah-Bahar Free Trade Zone

2. Qeshm Free Area (QFA)

3. Sirjan Special Trade Zone

4. Kish Free Zone