In the 2015 FIVB Volleyball World League, Iran came third in Group 1’s Pool B in which the United States and Poland progressed to the next round. However, they took encouragement after defeating every team in their pool, including a double sweep of USA in Russia. Although they still have some way to go, Iran are on the rise and can present a good challenge to the world's elite teams. They have made rapid improvement in recent seasons, including their 2014 World League campaign, culminating in a fourth place finish in Group 1 following a straight-set defeat to their Italian hosts in the bronze medal match.

Iran will participate in their first Olympic volleyball tournament after finishing second at the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Iran have featured in the past three FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships and were sixth at the 2014 edition in Poland, where a strong Russian side defeated them in the final round. They also defeated Japan to win the gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea in 2014.