Iran Lifts Ban on New iPhone Models: Lifting of Import Ban Sparks Excitement

TEHRAN: Iranians will soon have access to the latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 14, 15, and 16, as the government has lifted its ban on new smartphones from Apple. This decision was announced on Wednesday, October 30 by the country's telecommunications minister.

The ban had been in effect since 2023, but Satar Hashemi, the telecommunications minister, stated that authorities are now allowing the registration of these new iPhones. He shared the news on X, highlighting that the registration issue had been resolved with the support of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

While specific import measures have yet to be detailed, Hashemi indicated that an announcement will come soon.

Despite the ban on new models, older versions, such as the iPhone 13, remained available, reflecting the high demand for these devices, which serve as a status symbol among many young Iranians. Under the previous restrictions, any new iPhone models brought into Iran would cease to function on the country's state-controlled mobile networks after one month, which aligned with the permitted duration for tourist visits.

The ban inadvertently created a parallel market for older iPhones, causing prices for these devices to soar as many sought to convert their declining Iranian rials into tangible assets. This situation highlights the economic challenges faced by Iran due to years of Western sanctions.

Historically, iPhone imports have been a sensitive issue in Iran, with government data indicating that around a third of the country's $4.4 billion mobile phone import market was comprised of iPhones before the ban. In 2020, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the import of iPhones and other American luxury goods, labeling them as excessive and unnecessary expenses.

Despite the restrictions on iPhones, other foreign smartphone brands such as Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi, and Huawei remain widely available in the Iranian market.

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