Iran iPhone Ban Looms Unless Apple Registers With Anti-Smuggling Scheme

[MacRumors]

Apple has been warned by the Iranian government that it faces having its products banned in the country unless it officially registers with Iran's anti-smuggling office.

"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 project on Sunday.

The ultimatum was reported by Tasnim News Agency and translated today by The Japan Times. According to the report, more than 40 million Iranians use smartphones, including millions of iPhone users whose devices are often imported into the country by smugglers.

To stop the flow of smuggled phones, Iran's presidential office will initiate a scheme later this week that requires all mobile phones to be registered with Iran's telecommunications user database. Phones not registered will not be able to be used in the country. According to the office, former users of iPhones and other smuggled phones are excluded from the scheme.

Despite the cooperation of mobile operators, customs, and the union of mobile phone sellers, IT activists in the country have criticized the state's decision to potentially ban iPhones.

"Collecting this huge number of iPhones will not be easy," the head of the Tehran IT union told Tasnim News, and expressed concerns that the telecommunications database could be susceptible to hacking attempts.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Iran iPhone Ban Looms Unless Apple Registers With Anti-Smuggling Scheme

 

[bushido]

So what if you are only there for a little while as a tourist for example. Will Ou have to register your iPhone to be able to use it? Otherwise any "tourist" could just happen to bring an iPhone in the country and sell it as before

 

[fitshaced]

Surely the iPhone's currently for sale are not the property of the Iranian government.

 

[0007776]

So what if you are only there for a little while as a tourist for example. Will Ou have to register your iPhone to be able to use it? Otherwise any "tourist" could just happen to bring an iPhone in the country and sell it as before

My guess is they would have some sort of temporary registration that would work for tourists. Or you might just have to use whatever roaming deals your carrier in your home country has in Iran.

 

[miknos]

Disgusting.

Any libertarian, capitalist or worker will feel the same.

 

[H2SO4]

So what if you are only there for a little while as a tourist for example. Will Ou have to register your iPhone to be able to use it? Otherwise any "tourist" could just happen to bring an iPhone in the country and sell it as before

You register. I had a friend that went to Cape Verde on holiday recently. He had to fill out lots of forms and send back with proofs of all sorts. On that same form goes your IMEI.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Surely the iPhone's currently for sale are not the property of the Iranian government.

It's called confiscation and legally renders the question of property meaningless.

I do agree though, a very hard-handed approach. Then again, so is having to register your phone to fight smuggling.
On another note, I guess I'm not the only one suspecting other reasons for this registration scheme.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[Dilster3k]

Apple should withhold and refuse until they get their human rights in check.

 

[MH01]

There is going to be some interesting replies here, getting popcorn

 

[gleepskip]

Can't we just ban the Iranian government? Stop inviting them to parties, take them off the holiday card list, block their phone numbers, and move on? Why must we keep reading their annoying emails?

 

[Kajje]

So what if you are only there for a little while as a tourist for example. Will Ou have to register your iPhone to be able to use it? Otherwise any "tourist" could just happen to bring an iPhone in the country and sell it as before

I heard there's good wifi in the Qeshm caves.

 

[aaronvan]

Iran wants "an official [Apple] representative in Iran." Sounds simple enough.

An interesting tweet from the Supreme Cleric:

https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/755363807489363968

 

[MH01]

There you go apple , Iran, has found a solution for all the scalpers at product launches

 

[H2SO4]

Apple should withhold and refuse until they get their human rights in check.

That means they have to turn down money. Can’t see that happening.

 

[MH01]

That means they have to turn down money. Can’t see that happening.

Agreed . Money comes first.

 

[H2SO4]

Agreed . Money comes first.

Don’t blame them. The lure of the green is very hard to ignore.

 

[Gutwrench]

Here you go Iran. [Darn autocorrect.]

 

[MH01]

Don’t blame them. The lure of the green is very hard to ignore.

Not at all, though it contradicts all the right "political" things TC preaches, as money comes before principles . In which case I jsut wish TC would shut up and focus on directive number one, profit.

 

[HEK]

So what if you are only there for a little while as a tourist for example. Will Ou have to register your iPhone to be able to use it? Otherwise any "tourist" could just happen to bring an iPhone in the country and sell it as before

Tourists? Anyone going to Iran, or North Korea should not be surprised if they wind up arrested.

 

[username:]

Does any other country do this? Seems like an illogical way to prevent smuggling. If corruption is the issue, then the whole scheme will be infiltrated soon anyway. Why don't they try to crack down on the actual smugglers?

And if apple don't comply, a nice way for the government to get themselves a bunch of brand new iPhones.

 

[Imory]

Tourists? Anyone going to Iran, or North Korea should not be surprised if they wind up arrested.

Ever tried to visit Iran? I'm afraid your comment is really a complete and utter lie, solely based on ignorance.

 

[freediverx]

Why is "iPhone smuggling" an issue in the first place? Circumvention of import tariffs?
[doublepost=1468931899][/doublepost]

Apple should withhold and refuse until they get their human rights in check.

If we're going to use human rights violations as an excuse to stop sales to a country, we're going to have a long list of countries without iPhones - starting with our close ally and champion of democracy, Saudi Arabia.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Can't we just ban the Iranian government? Stop inviting them to parties, take them off the holiday card list, block their phone numbers, and move on? Why must we keep reading their annoying emails?

The more you isolate a country the less you have to expect them to integrate into the world economy and hence find a path to peace and prosperity.

I know you may care jack all about their prosperity (correct me if I'm mistaken), but their peace has some influence on your peace too if you're unlucky.

Your approach seems like something a kindergarten kid would deem applicable.
No offense.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[gleepskip]

Your approach seems like something a kindergarten kid would deem applicable.
No offense.

None taken. Only a kindergarten kid would have thought my suggestion was truly genuine.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

I'm sure soon in Turkey too ...