Latest Update on the Exact Date for Registering Imported iPhones: Are Price Drops on the Way?

According to SaedNews, Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, head of the Trade Development Organization, mentioned in a TV program that past experiences of providing export incentives in certain sectors have been very successful. For example, during the period when export incentives were provided, there was significant growth in the export of engineering services.

Dehnavi added: "The export of engineering services more than doubled compared to previous years because these incentives reduced the cost of these services and increased their competitiveness."

He continued: "Since the 1990s, due to budgetary pressures, incentives have not been paid as they were in the past. Usually, the allocation for export incentives is less than the small amount earmarked in the budget."

He also mentioned exporting to Africa: "One of our problems in exporting to Africa is logistics and transportation. If we can provide good export incentives, they should be allocated as transportation subsidies to Africa in the form of a fixed shipping line to West Africa."

Only 100 Billion Out of 1100 Billion Export Incentives Allocated

Dehnavi said: "The average budget for export support in 88 countries with organizations similar to the Trade Development Organization is about 0.18% of their trade, which is considered as export incentives. Based on this average, we should allocate about 5,400 billion tomans for export incentives, but we allocate much less."

We Aim to Make Export Incentives More Targeted

The head of the Trade Development Organization said: "We aim to make export incentives more targeted. For example, in exporting engineering services, if our contractor participates in international tenders, we ensure that we provide a 2% incentive so they can lower their bid by 2%, increasing their chances of success."

Post-regulations Should Replace Pre-regulations in Export and Import

Dehnavi mentioned the problems faced by exporters and importers: "The biggest issue currently troubling our exporters and importers is the existing laws and regulations. Our exporters and importers face challenges due to sanctions, and policymakers want to ensure that foreign currency returns to the country. To ensure this, regulations have been put in place that are sometimes cumbersome."

He added: "The nature of the regulations for our exports and imports is pre-regulatory, meaning the legislator wants to control everything to ensure you behave correctly. However, the global practice is post-regulation, meaning I deal with violations but do not interfere with your commercial operations."

Exporters Have No Choice But to Meet Currency Obligations

Dehnavi said: "Exporters need money to buy the next shipment, so they are forced to meet currency obligations whenever they export to finance their working capital."

He added: "A good development at the Central Bank is the establishment of a currency exchange center, which shows a belief that multiple exchange rates lead to rent-seeking. The aim is to move towards a single exchange rate system."

Reviving the Supreme Council of Exports is on the Agenda

Dehnavi said: "The Supreme Council of Exports can facilitate exports and play a significant role in legislation or amending laws focused on exports, as this council operates at the Cabinet level. Sometimes, timing is critical in amending laws or making decisions, and the Supreme Council of Exports is crucial in these situations."

iPhones Imported So Far Will Be Registered Without Additional Costs

The head of the Trade Development Organization mentioned the unregistered iPhones that were turned on in the network before the registration of iPhones 14 and above became mandatory: "The decision to register iPhones was proposed by the Minister of Industry and Communications to the government and was eventually approved. There are commercial and passenger import procedures for importing phones. The customs duty rate for these phones under the passenger procedure is 30%, and upon arrival, the phone is declared, registered, and then activated in the Hamta system, which will be operational in two days."

He added: "People who previously purchased iPhones will soon have their issues resolved, and we are preparing procedures to allow them to easily register their phones."

Dehnavi concluded: "Within the next 10 days, iPhones that were previously unable to be registered will be registered without any additional costs, solely by paying the approved customs duties."