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Iran lifts iPhone ban, allows new imports after 2023 freeze
The prohibition on iPhone imports had been in place since 2023, but the country’s telecommunications minister confirmed the shift, saying new models would now be registered in Iran, AP wrote.
Telecommunications Minister Sattar Hashemi took to X, formerly Twitter, to declare that the “problem of registering new iPhone models on the Iranian market was “solved,” with President Masoud Pezeshkian supporting the move.
While Hashemi didn’t provide extensive details, he noted that guidelines for importing the devices would be disclosed shortly. This decision aligns with the CIT Ministry’s broader goal of expanding technology access amid increasing consumer demand.
While the import ban on the latest models was active, Iranians could still purchase iPhone 13 and older models, which retained popularity as status symbols among the country’s youth.
Under the ban, newer iPhones brought into Iran became unusable on state-controlled mobile networks after a one-month grace period—typically given to foreign visitors.
Before the ban, iPhones accounted for nearly one-third of Iran’s $4.4 billion mobile phone market, according to government statistics.
While iPhones have faced regulatory challenges, other foreign brands remain accessible to Iranian consumers.
Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi, and Huawei smartphones are widely available in Iran, providing alternatives to Apple products.