This study quantitatively analyzes the dynamic and long-term effects of macroeconomic variables on the growth of Iran’s agricultural sector. To provide reliable evidence for effective policy design, the impacts of inflation, unemployment, economic participation rate, and development credits on the provincial value added of agriculture were investigated across 31 Iranian provinces during 2007–2022. The research employed a panel ARDL econometric approach. After testing the stationarity of variables and confirming long-run cointegration, both short- and long-run coefficients as well as the adjustment speed were estimated through the error correction model (ECM). The results indicated that, in the long run, the economic participation rate (0.35) and development credits (0.28) exert significant positive effects on agricultural growth, whereas inflation (−0.23) and unemployment (−0.16) have significant negative impacts on this sector. The error correction coefficient (−0.58) implies a high adjustment speed toward long-run equilibrium, showing that nearly 59% of disequilibrium is corrected annually. Overall, the findings highlight that the sustainable development of Iran’s agricultural sector depends strongly on the stability and soundness of the macroeconomic environment. Sustainable growth in this field cannot be achieved solely through technical improvements; it requires an economic framework that supports production and productivity through inflation control, employment enhancement, and infrastructure investment. Hence, close coordination between economic and agricultural policymakers is a strategic necessity for achieving lasting food security and strengthening overall productivity.