Governance of the sulfur value chain in Iran faces structural institutional and regulatory challenges due to the by‑product nature of sulfur, the multiplicity of involved institutions, and increasingly stringent environmental and safety requirements. Focusing on the institutional governance layer, this study examines the distribution of roles, regulatory instruments, and coordination mechanisms among governmental bodies associated with the sulfur value chain. The research adopts a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through semi‑structured interviews with experts, analysis of policy and regulatory documents, and a comparative review of selected international experiences, and were analyzed using hybrid coding and thematic analysis. Institutional mapping was also employed to identify key institutional nodes. The findings indicate that governance challenges in the sulfur value chain can be grouped into four major dimensions: regulatory and standardization gaps in monitoring, quality control, and environmental and safety requirements; institutional pathway failures in permitting and in translating evidence into operational standards and procedures; weak cross‑sectoral coordination and misalignment of incentives in implementation and commercialization; and shortcomings in economic policy instruments and data governance related to pricing, trade, and information‑based decision‑making. These findings suggest that shifting from a marginal, disposal‑oriented view of sulfur toward a strategic perspective requires regulatory integration