Iran Lifts iPhone Ban, Allows New Apple Imports After 2023 Freeze

By Amir Daftari

Iranians will soon be able to purchase the newest iPhone models—iPhone 14, 15, and 16—after authorities lifted a ban on importing Apple's latest products, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

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.

Telecommunications Minister Satar 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 communication ministry's broader goal of expanding technology access amid increasing consumer demand.

Luxury Symbol and Economic Strain

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.

Demand remained high despite Iran's economic instability and currency devaluation, pushing up the prices of older devices. 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.

This created a black market for older models as Iranians sought to protect their savings from inflation by purchasing valuable, tangible assets.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks in an open session of Parliament in Tehran, Iran, Oct. 29, 2024. On Wednesday, Pezeshkian backed the efforts of Iran's communication ministry on lifting the iPhone ban. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

High Costs and Controversy

The import of iPhones has long been a contentious issue in Iran.

Before the ban, iPhones accounted for nearly one-third of Iran's $4.4 billion mobile phone market, according to government statistics.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had previously condemned iPhone imports in 2020, criticizing them as examples of unnecessary luxury consumption.

"Excessive imports are something dangerous," Khamenei stated at the time. "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," he remarked, according to a transcript on his official website.

Newsweek has reached out to Apple for comment via email.

A street musician plays the violin while a man reacts at the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Oct. 19, 2024. Statistics suggest that about a third of Iran’s entire $4.4 billion mobile phone import... More Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

Alternative Brands Remain Available

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.

The recent lift on the ban signals a partial easing of Iran's restrictions on American tech products, though it remains to be seen if further changes will follow in the tech import sector.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press