Iran’s new anti-smuggling initiative, set to kickoff later this week, could result in a ban on iPhones, unless Apple agrees to officially register to do business in the country.
A Tasnim News Agency report on Monday, translated by The Japan Times, says Iranian government officials intend to enact a new set of anti-smuggling rules that will basically ban iPhone sales if Apple does not comply.
“If Apple will not register an official representative in Iran within the next few days, all iPhones will be collected from the market,” said the director of Iran’s anti-smuggling office.
The new rules will implement a country-wide mobile phone registry that requires all cellphones to be registered with a central database prior to use. Apple, who is not currently recognized as a legitimate business in the country, will see its devices banned from the market. However, iPhones currently in use will not be affected.
While Apple does not have an official presence in the Iranian territory, the company’s products are in high-demand, and are available via unauthorized resellers. Apple, (as well as other high-tech U.S. companies), has been banned from selling products in the middle eastern country, due to U.S. trade sanctions. However, Apple last year began discussions with Iranian distributors in the hope that sanctions will be eased sometime this year.
(Via AppleInsider)
