The Apple Store has allegedly removed iOS apps and games that originate from Iran. Reports of this surprising move from the Cupertino-based tech giant broke after Digikala's apps, the biggest Iranian e-commerce service, were removed from the store.

It is still unclear whether Apple's decision to remove apps involves all Iranian startups and developers. As of writing, the tech giant has yet to comment on the issue at hand.

Apple previously opened the App Store to Iranian users last September 2016. However, it has gradually set limitations As some reports noted, some Iranian app developers usually use a different location upon registration to get around the limitation.

According to a TechCrunch report, the Digikala e-commerce apps uses the Shaparak payment system which does not contradict or violate the Apple's term and condition for apps developers. The site noted that it was probably removed from the App Store as part Apple's seemingly new policy.

Related to the restraining of submissions of Iranian apps, Apple has posted a message to developers uploading apps in the Apps Store. The message claims that the App Store is currently unavailable in Iran, and apps facilitating transactions for businesses or entities based in Iran may not comply with the Iranian Transactions Sanctions Regulations.

Meanwhile, Apple has also removed the New York Times app from the Apps Store in China. But unlike the Digikala apps and other apps removed apps from Iranian developers, the removal of the said app was due to a request made by the Chinese government.

There are approximately 40 million smartphone users Iran, with 15 percent of them using iPhones. The current issue is quietly affecting the users in the country.