November 10, 2024
Iranians can now import iPhones 14, 15 and 16 after the Pezeshkian Administration lifted the ban on such imports imposed in 2023 by the late President Esmail Raisi.
The authorities lifted the ban on new smartphones models, made by Apple, October 30.
However, the announcement said nothing about lifting the 96 percent tariff on all cellphones costing 600 euros ($650) or more.
Telecommunications Minister Satar Hashemi said on X that the problem of registering new iPhone models on the Iranian market was “solved” and that President Pezeshkian backed the efforts toward that goal.
Following the 2023 ban, iPhone 13 and older versions could still be imported amid high demand for an item that remains a status symbol for many young Iranians.
While the ban was in place, any iPhone 14, 15 or higher brought into Iran would stop working on Iran’s state-controlled mobile phone networks after one month, the time span for tourists allowed to visit the county.
The ban spurred a parallel economy for the older handsets, jacking up prices for the devices as many sought to put their depreciating Iranian rials into products. It was a sign of the economic woes plaguing Iran after decades of Western sanctions.
Imports of iPhones have long been a contentious point government statistics suggest that about a third of Iran’s entire $4.4 billion mobile phone import market consisted of iPhones before the ban.
In 2020, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi pointedly criticized iPhone imports as just another luxury American consumer toy. “Excessive imports are something dangerous,” Khamenehi said. “Sometimes this import is a luxury product, meaning there is no need for it. I’ve heard about half a billion dollars were spent to import one type of American luxury cellphone.”
Hardliners have generally denounced the import of iPhones and the huge volume of foreign exchange lost when importing them. Some extremists also allege that the US government is listening in on iPhones.
About 90 percent of iPhones are assembled in China. All iPhones are made for Apple by two companies based in Taiwan, Foxconn and Pegatron.
Other foreign smartphone brands such as Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi and Huawei remain available in Iran, though lacking the prestige of the Apple brand.
