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Iran is amongst the countries in the world widely known for cultivation of Prunus spp. (or stone fruits). It is both a centre of origin and diversity of the stone fruits. Numerous wild species as well as many cultivars and landraces of these fruit crops are important genetic resources today in Iran and can be used for improvement and breeding of scion and rootstock cultivars which are resistant to many biotic and abiotic stresses through modern genomics and genetic technologies. This paper discusses the distribution, ethno-botany, diversity and utilization of wild and domesticated genetic resources of stone fruits including almond ( Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb.), peach and nectarine ( P. persica Batsch), European and Japanese plum ( P. × domestica L., and P. salicina L., respectively), sweet and sour cherry ( P. avium L., and P. cerasus L., respectively), and apricot ( P. armeniaca L.), all of which are members of the Rosaceae family. The goal of this paper is to highlight the importance of Iran as a main contributor to the diversity of Prunus genetic resources in the world, as well as, present major achievements regarding identification, collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of this valuable genetic resource in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]