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Apple blocks all access to the App Store from Iran

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Mar 16, 2018, 4:00 AM

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Apple blocks all access to the App Store from Iran

The drumbeats about Iran are getting louder by the day, and the US-imposed sanctions may be hitting in unexpected places... like the App Store, for instance. So far, Iranians were able to get an iPhone from abroad, bring it into the country, and use whatever localized content meant for the initial region they could get access to.

No more, it seems, as Apple may have blocked all App Store content requests that are originating from Iran whatsoever. When in Itan, you will now be getting a message "The App Store is unavailable in the country or region you’re in," unless you are using a VPN, of course, masking your actual location. Needless to say, this might all be due to the tougher sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Iran last year.

Apple first pulled the Iranian apps off the market then, afterwards some business applications, and now a total blockage of the App Store. "Under the US sanctions regulations, the App Store cannot host, distribute, or do business with apps or developers connected to certain US embargoed countries," informed Apple last year, complying with the sanctions legislation. Bummer.

source: BleepingComputer via TheVerge

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.