Update: Several readers have noted that Vaghaye Gostar Fars claims to be the first to receive approval from the government in Iran to import Apple products following the sales ban, but is not necessarily officially associated with Apple. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment.
Following the U.S. government lifting a United States embargo for exports of products into Iran on May 30th of last year, reports from Fars News Agency and other local publications note the first company has now been granted permission by authorities in the country to start selling Apple products (via zoomit.ir). Iran’s Industry, Mines, and Trade ministry has approved a third-party reseller in the country reportedly called Vaghaye Gostar Fars that will be the first importer of Apple products following the sales ban.
Up until now, Iranians have been forced to purchase Apple products making their way to unofficial stores from the Middle East and surrounding regions via the black market. In 2012, Reuters ran a story detailing the approximately 100 stores in Iran’s capital of Tehran alone selling Apple products brought illegally into the country.
Last year Apple updated its website to reflect the U.S. government’s decision to lift the export ban, and at the time Apple commented that it is “no longer banned from selling Macs and iOS devices to customers who plan to bring or send those products to Iran.” Apple’s full original comment from the lifting of the sales ban is below:
“We’ve been told by the U.S. government that most Apple products are covered by regulatory changes announced by the Treasury Department,” she said, referring to a decision to ease restrictions on selling a broad array of communications equipment such as smartphones, laptops and computer software to Iran. “As a result, Apple is no longer banned from selling Macs and iOS devices to customers who plan to bring or send those products to Iran,” she said.
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Something I find amazing about all of these companies selling phones in the third world. Now granted I can understand a simple flip phone being sold in say Iran, its cheap. But a Iphone? At the cheapest the phone is what? 400 USD for the colored version? What will be the sale price in Iran, who are going to have the money to buy this device?…
Or are we simply being charged outrageous prices to supplement the cost? Maybe we are simply being charged outrageous prices, because Apple can, and that simply is wrong. It is bad capitalism, it is bad business and bad business is the leading cause of financial failure.
i am iranian, so let me explain it to you.
First this post is wrong and they are just a reseller authorized by government not APPLE which means they are not apple reseller.
about the pricing, right now the price of any electronic prices are cheaper than all of the Europe and almost the same as US prices, because all of them came to the country illegally by wholesales from third party companies in another countries.
So the only thing I got wrong is that Apple isn’t making profit off of these sales, that these sales are entirely a black market thing?
yes, entirely black market.
Iranian’s aren’t all poor. In fact, go to Youtube and type in “Tehran shopping” and you’ll see Ferraris, Ermenegildo Zegna boutiques, Rolex, Montblanc, etc…being sold in Iran.
There are plenty of Americans who somehow have iPhones that we see in Walmart using their EBT handout food stamps. It’s the same all around the world. People who you wouldn’t expect to, but they figure out ways to get luxuries.
Actually difference is you can buy an iPhone with Cash/Credit Card only. I have been to like 20 countries around the world. and in fact I can say Iran and Qatar were among the richest countries that I have been to. Even in UK people do not live as luxurious as in Tehran, Iran.
That’s how people in most countries by their goods, by spending cash or credit. Or do you mean that there are no carrier subsidies?
There are no carrier subsidies. There are only factory unlocked iPhones. Starting at around $600. I was in the Philippines while iPhone 5S was released. Then after a week I went to Tehran and so many people already switched to iPhone 5S. Even Samsung holds official launch events in Tehran as they have many Direct Retail Shops there.
I’m sure Apple has a bigger market in Iran than most of southeast asia countries. Everyone has a smartphone in Iran. Why are you so biased… According to GDP Iran is world’s 19th strongest economy. Higher than 181 countries.
Finally!
I’m so happy to hear this.
I hope Apple is planning to open an App Store as well!
We deserve the best!