Numerous countries formally prohibit aerial photography - Spain is (or was up to a year or so ago) an example and BA flights there always (used to) make an announcement to that effect. I don't know if Iran comes into this category, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Such prohibitions may have made sense 50 years ago, but the invention of the reconnaissance satellite (and Google Earth
) render them asinine. I often take snaps from BA flights (Greenland is a favourite) and have never had a problem.