Apple removes popular applications in Iran, referring to U.S. sanctions imposed

Almaty. August 25. Silkroadnews – Apple removes popular applications in Iran, referring to the U.S. sanctions imposed, the New York Times reported.
“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”, report said.
At the same time, it is noted that in its appeal to Iranian developers whose applications have been 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”.
It is also reported that Google, which allows Android developers to publish applications in Iran if they are not related to sales, does not seem to have taken similar actions against Iranian applications in its Play Store, and its formal guidelines allow the distribution of mobile applications in Iran.
According to the agency, in February Apple informed Iranian developers it stops using any payment options in its applications to prevent Iranian money from entering the U.S. in violation of sanctions. In response to the sanctions, Iran has developed its own internal online payment system called “Shaparak”. After that, almost all Iranian applications, including Snapp, switched to Shaparak, cash and other payment methods.
As the publication explains, while Samsung, one of Apple’s key competitors, opened a large sales center in Iran in February, Apple is not formally represented in this country because of the sanctions imposed by the United States. iPhones are not allowed for sales in Iran and Apple does not offer services to its App Store. Nevertheless, Iranians actively use iPhones smuggled in from Dubai and Hong Kong, and local developers create thousands of applications for Iranian users, as well as offer them through the App Store outside of Iran.