Greetings in Iran are usually warm and fairly formal at first: a handshake is common between men, while many men and women who are not close relatives avoid physical contact and instead greet with a nod, hand over the heart, or a verbal salutation. It is polite to ask after someone’s health and family before getting to business, and among friends you may hear the Persian greeting
salam followed by a longer exchange of courtesy rather than a quick hello.