Iran has banned the import and sale of Motorola phones, citing security concerns related to recent incidents involving Motorola pagers in Lebanon, which prompted government calls for restrictions on products from the American brand.

The prohibition means Motorola-branded phones and pagers can no longer be registered with the country’s telecommunications networks despite none of the brand's items being used in the Israeli attacks on Lebanese Hezbollah.

Although Motorola holds a relatively minor share of Iran’s smartphone market (less than 2% of the overall market), the ban leaves the inventory and investments of affected retailers in uncertainty. Online stores have already reacted by removing Motorola products from their listings or marking them as “out of stock.”

Iran’s Mobile Phone Association chairman, Abdulmehdi Asadi, explained that the ban was in response to explosions involving pagers in Beirut. He confirmed that recent import restrictions were extended to encompass distribution and sales, making it illegal for retailers to offer Motorola phones for sale, even if they have existing stock.

“Motorola phones previously imported and available in stores are no longer permitted for sale and have been removed from shelves, which explains why online stores also list these phones as unavailable,” Asadi stated.

He noted that this prohibition was enacted following recommendations from security agencies and under the oversight of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade.

The decision appears to be rooted in misguided concerns over the design similarities between Motorola’s phones and pagers, prompting Iranian authorities to restrict American products despite the brand not having any connection to the original company since Lenovo's 2011 buyout of the brand's so-called "mobility division".

Before this policy was implemented, some members of Iran’s parliament had formally urged the Ministry of Communications to ban Motorola imports, suggesting that the communication equipment from Motorola, similar to the pagers involved in the Beirut incident, could pose security risks.

They also recommended that the Ministry and the Passive Defence Organization thoroughly review Motorola’s digital and analogue communication devices used in sensitive sectors to replace them with secure alternatives.

According to a report by local technology website Digiato, initial news of the Motorola phone import ban emerged earlier this year. Mohammad Mehdi Baradaran, the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade (MIMT), announced shortly before leaving office that Motorola phones would be barred from being sold nationwide in retail stores.

The regional IntelliNews bureau reached out to Motorola's in-country headquarters, now entirely owned by the Chinese technology company Lenovo, which has the right to produce mobile devices; by the time of publication, Motorola Iran had not responded to questions. 

China-based Lenovo has also not commented on the Iranian government's decision to ban the brand, however, Lenovo-branded laptops and other technology items are not included in the Motorola shutdown.