During the first five months of the current fiscal which started in March, the total value of mobile phones imported into Iran has amounted to $239,790,594. According to data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, the number indicates a 92.9% year-on-year increase in cellphone imports in terms of value. Cellphones currently are the sixth most imported item into Iran and have a 1.27% share of the five-month import bill. The significant increase in mobile phone imports has been due to the introduction of a state scheme titled Mobile Phone Registry which is aimed at curbing entry of smuggled cellphones into Iran and bars local mobile network operators from offering services to smuggled handsets.
