The process by which a symbiont acquires iron from its host, either from heme or other iron containing molecules such as transferrin and lactoferrin. Begins with either the secretion of symbiont gene products that bind iron- or heme-containing molecules (siderophores and hemophores) from the symbiont cell into the host, or by expression of receptors that bind iron- or heme-containing molecules on the symbiont cell surface. Ends when the iron-containing compound is transported into the symbiont cell. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15487950 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22865843 ]