Of Ipads and Iran

Sabet, an American citizen, was apparently going to send the iPad to someone in Iran. Apparently Zach Jafarzadeh had a similar experience when he tried to by an iPhone at a different location. According to Sabet, the employee cited, “bad relations” between the countries as the reason and when she called Apple, she was told to make her purchase online.

Was the Apple employee correct? According to the Huffington Post, the following is on the Apple website:

PROHIBITED DESTINATIONS: The U.S. holds complete embargoes against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria

The exportation, reexportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a U. S. person/wherever located, or any Apple good, software, technology (including technical data), or services to any of these countries is strictly prohibited without prior authorization by the U.S. Government. This prohibition also applies to any Apple owned subsidiary or any subsidiary employee worldwide.

The online community has been in active debate about this topic, with some in agreement, some in vehement disagreement, and some saying it’s correct in theory, but ridiculous to try and uphold the embargo at the local retail level. Here is the link to a summary of the sanctions in place against Iran: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/iran.pdf

What do you think?