BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
Mobile phones have not been imported for a month after the outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran, said Hossein Gharavi Ram, the head of Iran’s Mobile Phone Importers Association, Trend reports citing Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).
According to Gharavi Ram, the demand for mobile phones has decreased in Iran. However, there is no ban on their imports, he said.
Gharavi Ram added that mobile phones can be imported to Iran by individuals and via trade operations.
According to IRICA's statistics, a total of nearly 9.8 million mobile phones were imported to the country in the first 11 months of the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 through February 19, 2020). This is an increase of 290 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year when 2.51 million units were imported.
Out of this number, more than 3.7 million mobile phones were imported by the citizens, which is an increase of 36.5 percent compared to the same period preceding year (2.75 million units).
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 64,500 people have been infected, 3,993 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 29,800 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread of COVID-19. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.