Industry Ministry Spokesman: Car Import Tariff Hike Not Yet Notified, and Imports Are Not Banned

Ezzatollah Zarei, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, told Mehr on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (17 Aban 1405) that a measure raising car import tariffs, approved at a meeting of the heads of the branches of government, has not yet been officially notified by the issuing authority. He said the Central Bank and the Plan and Budget Organization raised the idea to make up for a shortfall in government resources, and that the ministry took no part in the approval process.

Zarei said car imports have not been banned; only imports through Iranians living abroad are prohibited, and other groups can still register orders. He said about 25,000 vehicles have entered the country since the start of the Iranian year and that imports will continue with foreign currency supplied from importers' own and others' deposits. Mehr's report does not state the new tariff rate.