If you plan to go to Iran and have an iPhone, you may have this question: Does the iPhone work in Iran?
As you know, Apple is a well-known, and so-called well-established company in the whole world. This company's products have attracted many users. iPhone, iPad, iWatch, and iPod are the products of this famous company whose releases have been a revolution in the field of smart devices.
As you know, Iran is sanctioned and there are some restrictions, and these limitations have affected the use of Apple devices like the iPhone.
The first limitation you may see on the iPhone is the creation of an Apple ID.
In the past, you could easily create an Apple ID by giving yourself a phone number and an email. But now, the process has more steps and more complicated measures to improve security, so it is now difficult to create an Apple ID in Iran.
Of course, the good news is that qualified individuals in Iran can get you an Apple ID.
As you know, most apps on the Apple Store are for a fee. In Iran, if you do not have access to international banking and payments like Visa card, etc., and cannot make online payments through the Apple Store through Iranian bank cards. You can't use Apple Pay in Iran as well.
Of course, you can make payments in the Apple Store by buying gift cards in Iran, but it will take longer, and you will have to pay more.
You should also know that, other programs like iBook, iTunes, and Mac Story are not going to work in Iran.
As said before, due to the sanctions, there are limitations. One of them is the lack of official agencies and branches for some brands, such as Apple. Of course, there are some stores with Apple products that also provide some services in Iran, but Apple does not recognize them. Therefore, if you purchase an Apple mobile phone in Iran, there will be no guarantee or after-sales service.
When you enter Iran and put an Iranian SIM card in your phone, you can use your iPhone for 30 days as a traveler. But after that time, your iPhone would not pick up any network from the operators. In this case, you need to register your iPhone legally to be able to use it in the country.
Yes, they do. Unregistered iPhones, work for a limited time of 30 days for tourists. And if you are planning to stay in Iran for longer than 30 days, you need to register you device at the customs, and you can read about it in the article here. As of mid 2025, the limitations on the registration of the latest models of iPhones have been lifted by Iran's government.
To sum up, if you have an iPhone mobile phone and plan to travel to Iran, the good news is that your unregistered iPhone works in Iran, for up to 30 days and sometimes a bit more, although with some limitations that we mentioned above.
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