Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

Iran has banned the import of Apple iPhones to stop its citizens from spending cash while the country struggles with US sanctions.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is said to have made the move to restrict the use of hard-currency resources.

According to local media, phone importers were suddenly blocked from placing new orders for iPhones when using the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade’s online system.

Ministry officials later confirmed the ban, adding that it will remain in place until further notice.

The move comes a month after Iranian lawmakers tabled a motion to ban the import of mobile phones worth more than USD 600 to prevent depleting foreign exchange resources.

Iranian trade minister Reza Fatemi Amin recently informed Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi that more than USD 1 billion had been spent on Apple imports into Iran in the last year.

Meanwhile, the total cost of importing phones worth more than USD 600 totalled around USD 1.4 billion for the same period.

According to reports, many Iranian officials back the ban as it hits back against US sanctions hitting the country’s economy.

However, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, 40, former Minister of Information and Communications Technology, said that previous attempts by the government to ban Apple phones had limited success and led to an increase in black-market trade.

He said: “The last time they decided to ban the import of iPhones, I asked the head of the Radio Regulatory Authority to prepare a quarterly report on the imports of mobile phones.

“The report clearly showed that a group of people had imported a large number of iPhones in an unauthorised way.”