Iranians annually purchase 15 million mobile phones, 60-70% of which demand are met by smuggled products, said the deputy head of Tehran Chamber of Guilds. Ebrahim Dorosti also blamed the high import tariffs for the huge amount of smuggling, Mehr News Agency reported. In the current Iranian year (started March 20), import tariffs on mobile phones were reduced to 5% from the previous year’s 7%. Importers also have to pay 9% in value-added tax.
