iPhone Users in Iran Now Unable to Access the App Store

It appears the App Store is no longer accessible to iPhone and iPad users in Iran, with Apple apparently implementing a countrywide IP ban.

According to Bleeping Computer, Iranians have been unable to access the App Store since approximately noon GMT, and when attempting to use the App Store, they're receiving a message that the store is unavailable in the country.

All Iranian IPs appear to be unable to use the App Store at the current time. Iranian security researcher Meysam Firouzi told Bleeping Computer that he was able to connect to the App Store when using a VPN, even though he has an account with Iranian details.

Because of U.S. sanctions, Apple does not sell its products in Iran nor is there an Iranian App Store, but there are millions of iPhones in the country that have been smuggled from places like Dubai and Hong Kong. iPhone users in Iran have previously been able to access the App Store by setting their devices to other regions.

Back in August, Apple began removing apps from its App Stores created by Iranian developers for Iranian citizens, such as Snapp, a popular app for an Uber-like ride hailing service popular in Iran. Apple has now gone one step further and appears to be preventing all users with an Iranian IP from accessing the App Store entirely.

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.

Tag: App Store

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

iapplelove

19 weeks ago

And over here we are complaining about battery statistics lol

Rating: 15 Votes

east85

19 weeks ago

If anything, hopefully this will encourage VPN use in the region.

Rating: 8 Votes

Solomani

18 weeks ago

I witnessed an Iranian smuggling operation first hand leaving from Oman. They load up boats with alcohol, cigarettes and porn and cross the bay several times a day...

So in other words, they are humans just like us Americans. They like their booze, their cigarettes, their porn. I understand they live under an authoritarian regime (like most MidEast governments), but I fail to understand why GOP warmongers dream of bombing Iranian cities and annihilating its civilians.

Iranian civilians, strangely enough, live "more freely" than those Medieval Saudis where the women still cannot drive (but the Saudi King promises it's coming). Iranian women have been driving for decades, and also practicing as physicians, scientists, and Iranian women also serve as Ministers of Parliament and as Vice Presidents of their Republic.… something unthinkable in Saudi. And yet, the USA considers the oppressive Saudis as "our friends".

Rating: 7 Votes

Jeaz

19 weeks ago

How does Google/Android deal with this?

Rating: 7 Votes

Nermal

19 weeks ago

My guess is that its their government thats blocking it.

I'd imagine that it's Apple doing it; if it was being blocked further down the line then the error would likely be a more generic "unable to connect".

Rating: 7 Votes

samh004

19 weeks ago

In the long run, how does isolating a country’s people from the App Store and (eventually) the internet further your cause to reduce their radicalisation? I don’t think it does, just the opposite. Apple may have their hands tied here but it makes no sense to me. I’d want them (citizens of Iran) to see the App Store and the world.

Rating: 6 Votes

fairuz

19 weeks ago

Imagine having to smuggle your phone in and use a VPN. Wow.

Rating: 5 Votes

heov

19 weeks ago

How does Google/Android deal with this?

Android can support multiple app stores.

Google has an app store ("Play Store").

Amazon has one.

Samsung has one.

China has a few, too.

And you can also download apps and install manually without any jailbreak, root, etc. But you better trust the source.

Rating: 5 Votes

dan9700

19 weeks ago

Iran has zero free speech its a shame islamic countrys are so backwards

Rating: 5 Votes

c0ppo

18 weeks ago

It's a recognized terrorist state. Who gives a F?

Really? Name one terrorist attack done by iranians in the last 3 decades. Just one.

I can name at least 10 done by arabs from just the top of my head. An that is in the last 1-2 years.

Yet, nothing is banned there....

Rating: 5 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]