Iranian authorities have announced the lifting of a ban on new iPhone models by Apple, allowing Iranians access to the latest iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models. The ban, which had been in place since 2023, has now been removed, according to the country's telecommunications minister.
The minister stated that the issue of registering new iPhone models in the Iranian market has been resolved, with the support of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Import measures for the new models are expected to be announced soon.
During the ban, only iPhone 13 and older models could be imported, leading to a surge in demand for these devices, which are considered a status symbol among many young Iranians. Any newer iPhone model brought into Iran would cease to function on the state-controlled mobile networks after one month.
The ban on new iPhone models gave rise to a parallel economy for older handsets, causing prices to soar as Iranians sought to invest their depreciating currency in physical commodities. This situation highlighted the economic challenges facing Iran due to years of Western sanctions.
iPhone imports have been a contentious issue in Iran, with government data indicating that iPhones accounted for a significant portion of the country's mobile phone import market before the ban was imposed.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had previously criticized iPhone imports, citing concerns about excessive luxury imports. However, other foreign smartphone brands such as Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi, and Huawei remain popular and widely available in Iran.
