New York Times: Apple, Citing U.S. Sanctions, Removes Popular Apps in Iran
TEHRAN — Officially, Apple has no presence in Iran. Because of American sanctions against the country, the company’s iPhones are not legally available for sale here, and Apple does not offer a version of its App Store in the country.
That has not stopped Iranians from snapping up millions of iPhones smuggled in from places like Dubai and Hong Kong. Nor has it kept Iranian app developers from creating thousands of apps for local users and offering them through App Stores outside Iran.
Now, Apple is moving aggressively to shut down Iranian apps. The crackdown here follows the company’s recent removal of apps in China that allowed residents to evade censors and gain access to the global internet, and were deemed illegal by the Chinese government.
On Thursday, Apple removed Snapp, a ride-hailing app similar to Uber that is popular in Iran, from its app stores. That followed the removal in recent weeks of apps for food delivery, shopping and other services.
In a message to Iranian developers whose apps were affected by the ban, Apple said, “Under the U.S. sanctions regulations, the App Store cannot host, distribute or do business with apps or developers connected to certain U.S. embargoed countries.”
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WNU Editor: If you are an Apple user in Iran and who enjoys Apple apps .... and apparently there are millions of Apple users in Iran .... this hurts. Not surprising, Iran wants to now sue Apple .... Legal action against Apple on agenda: Iran's telecom minister (Tehran Times)
More News On Apple Removing Its Popular Apps In Iran
Apple removes Iranian apps from App Store, cites US sanctions -- Apple Insider
Apple Has Started to Remove Iranian Apps Over Sanctions -- Fortune
Apple Cuts Iran Apps From Store Due to Sanctions, Founders Say -- Bloomberg
Apple removes popular apps in Iran due to US sanctions -- The Verge
Iran media report Apple shuts down Iranian apps -- Phys.Org
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