Iran has lifted its ban on iPhone fashions. The ban, imposed in 2023, had restricted the import of newer iPhone fashions, impacting many Iranians who needed to purchase the telephones. The announcement, made by the nation’s telecommunications minister, paves the best way for the import and sale of iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 units within the nation.
Telecommunications Minister Satar Hashemi introduced the coverage change on X, stating that the registration difficulty for brand new iPhones has been resolved with the assist of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Whereas particulars concerning the import course of are but to be launched, the announcement alerts a major shift in Iran’s stance on Apple merchandise.
Learn minister’s full message (translated from Persian):
The issue of the iPhone registry was solved by the administration of the federal authorities, the assist of the honorable president and #پیگیری_فعالانه_وزارت_ارتباطات . I imagine that with #کار_کارشناسی , creating consensus, with out fuss and uproar, different issues of our on-line world and other people’s calls for might be solved.
With right now’s approval of the Cupboard and the lifting of the ban, which was achieved with the assist of the Honorable Authorized Deputy of the President and the Honorable Minister Samet, the small print and laws associated to iPhone import will probably be introduced within the shortest attainable time.
Why Iran banned iPhones
In September 2020, Iran’s Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei known as for a ban on extreme luxurious imports, together with a US-manufactured telephone, citing issues concerning the nation’s funds. This ultimately led to a ban on iPhone 14 imports in February 2023.
The choice to carry the ban comes regardless of earlier criticism of iPhone imports by Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has expressed issues about extreme imports and the consumption of luxurious items.
“Extreme imports are one thing harmful,” Khamenei mentioned on the time, information company AP cited a transcript on his official web site as saying.
“Typically this import is a luxurious product, that means there isn’t any want for it. I’ve heard about half a billion {dollars} had been spent to import one kind of American luxurious cellphone,” he added.
The 2023 ban had created a thriving black marketplace for older iPhone fashions, driving up costs and highlighting the financial challenges confronted by Iranians amid Western sanctions. Regardless of the ban, older iPhones remained in style, with authorities statistics indicating that they accounted for a good portion of the nation’s cell phone import market.
Nevertheless, different overseas smartphone manufacturers resembling Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi and Huawei stay extensively accessible in Iran, the report added.
