We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is IRIB World Service censored by Apple?
IRIB World Service is gone from every App Store storefront we test. It was last seen available on May 13, 2020.
839 tests on record·last checked 35 days ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 11 other apps left mainland China the same day, Dec 1, 2020.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 11 other apps left mainland China the same day, Dec 1, 2020.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 11 other apps left mainland China the same day, Dec 1, 2020.
- Gone for 5 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
IRIB World Service
Developer: UK PRESS TV LTD · Category: News · Released: Aug 10, 2013 · Rating: 1.9★
Other News apps missing from mainland China
Life of this app
- Aug 10, 2013Released on the App Store
- Jan 8, 2020First tested by AppleCensorship
- May 13, 2020Last seen available anywhere
- Dec 25, 2021Gone from 118 storefronts
- Aug 14, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Sep 3, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| AlgeriaDZ | Unavailable | Apr 10, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| AngolaAO | Unavailable | Jun 2, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| AnguillaAI | Unavailable | Dec 20, 2020 | 3 years ago | ||
| ArgentinaAR | Unavailable | Dec 7, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| ArmeniaAM | Unavailable | Jul 8, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| AustriaAT | Unavailable | Jul 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BahrainBH | Unavailable | Sep 7, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| BelarusBY | Unavailable | Jul 17, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| BelgiumBE | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| BelizeBZ | Unavailable | Apr 18, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| BermudaBM | Unavailable | Sep 28, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| BhutanBT | Unavailable | Oct 29, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| BoliviaBO | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Unavailable | Jun 20, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Burkina FasoBF | Unavailable | Dec 14, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Mar 5, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| CanadaCA | Unavailable | Oct 23, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Cape VerdeCV | Unavailable | Apr 3, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| Cayman IslandsKY | Unavailable | Dec 7, 2020 | 4 years ago | ||
| ChadTD | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 1 year ago | ||
| ChileCL | Unavailable | Mar 10, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 35 days ago | ||
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Unavailable | Nov 1, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| CroatiaHR | Unavailable | May 5, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| DR CongoCD | Unavailable | Jul 30, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| EcuadorEC | Unavailable | May 12, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| El SalvadorSV | Unavailable | Apr 8, 2021 | 7 months ago | ||
| EstoniaEE | Unavailable | Aug 27, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| EswatiniSZ | Unavailable | Aug 17, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| FijiFJ | Unavailable | Apr 3, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| FinlandFI | Unavailable | May 1, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| FranceFR | Unavailable | Dec 25, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| GabonGA | Unavailable | Jun 26, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| GambiaGM | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 5 months ago | ||
| GermanyDE | Unavailable | Sep 21, 2025 | 35 days ago | ||
| GhanaGH | Unavailable | Feb 22, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| GuatemalaGT | Unavailable | Nov 10, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| GuyanaGY | Unavailable | Oct 12, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| HondurasHN | Unavailable | Dec 20, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Dec 31, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| IcelandIS | Unavailable | May 12, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| IsraelIL | Unavailable | Apr 29, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Apr 3, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| KazakhstanKZ | Unavailable | Sep 20, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| KuwaitKW | Unavailable | Aug 3, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| KyrgyzstanKG | Unavailable | Jun 14, 2021 | 4 months ago | ||
| LaosLA | Unavailable | Dec 17, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LatviaLV | Unavailable | Sep 28, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| LebanonLB | Unavailable | Feb 22, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | Dec 25, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| LibyaLY | Unavailable | Mar 31, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| LithuaniaLT | Unavailable | Feb 16, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| LuxembourgLU | Unavailable | Oct 29, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| MacaoMO | Unavailable | May 19, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MadagascarMG | Unavailable | Mar 16, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| MalaysiaMY | Unavailable | Jul 1, 2022 | 1 year ago | ||
| MaldivesMV | Unavailable | Nov 19, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| MaliML | Unavailable | Apr 4, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| MaltaMT | Unavailable | Dec 14, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| MauritaniaMR | Unavailable | Dec 12, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| MauritiusMU | Unavailable | Apr 29, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MicronesiaFM | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 4 months ago | ||
| MoldovaMD | Unavailable | Mar 24, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MongoliaMN | Unavailable | Mar 10, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | Jul 8, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MozambiqueMZ | Unavailable | Feb 20, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Unavailable | Aug 23, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Jun 20, 2024 | 35 days ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Aug 12, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| NetherlandsNL | Unavailable | Dec 20, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| New ZealandNZ | Unavailable | Jul 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| NicaraguaNI | Unavailable | Jan 12, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| NigerNE | Unavailable | Nov 2, 2021 | 4 months ago | ||
| NigeriaNG | Unavailable | Jun 2, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Feb 19, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| NorwayNO | Unavailable | Dec 20, 2020 | 3 years ago | ||
| OmanOM | Unavailable | Jun 24, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| PakistanPK | Unavailable | Dec 22, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| PanamaPA | Unavailable | Jun 14, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | May 1, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| ParaguayPY | Unavailable | Feb 26, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| PeruPE | Unavailable | Sep 27, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| PolandPL | Unavailable | Sep 10, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| PortugalPT | Unavailable | Jul 11, 2026 | 2 months ago | ||
| QatarQA | Unavailable | Aug 27, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| Republic of the CongoCG | Unavailable | Mar 24, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Mar 24, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| RwandaRW | Unavailable | Aug 2, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Unavailable | Feb 15, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| SenegalSN | Unavailable | Aug 30, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| SeychellesSC | Unavailable | Sep 7, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| Sierra LeoneSL | Unavailable | Mar 5, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| SingaporeSG | Unavailable | Sep 5, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| SlovakiaSK | Unavailable | May 28, 2021 | 1 year ago | ||
| SloveniaSI | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 2 years ago | ||
| Solomon IslandsSB | Unavailable | Jan 31, 2026 | 8 months ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Nov 23, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| St. LuciaLC | Unavailable | Apr 8, 2021 | 4 months ago | ||
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Unavailable | Feb 19, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| SurinameSR | Unavailable | Sep 20, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SwedenSE | Unavailable | Apr 2, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| SwitzerlandCH | Unavailable | Sep 5, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| TajikistanTJ | Unavailable | May 1, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| TanzaniaTZ | Unavailable | Aug 13, 2021 | 3 years ago | ||
| ThailandTH | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 4 years ago | ||
| TongaTO | Unavailable | Jul 1, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Unavailable | Nov 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| TürkiyeTR | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| TurkmenistanTM | Unavailable | Jun 7, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Aug 13, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Aug 12, 2021 | 35 days ago | ||
| United KingdomGB | Unavailable | Feb 26, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2020 | 35 days ago | ||
| UruguayUY | Unavailable | Mar 27, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| UzbekistanUZ | Unavailable | Jul 27, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| VanuatuVU | Unavailable | Nov 23, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| YemenYE | Unavailable | Mar 16, 2021 | 4 years ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AustraliaAU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AzerbaijanAZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahamasBS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BarbadosBB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BeninBJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BotswanaBW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BrazilBR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BruneiBN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BulgariaBG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CameroonCM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ColombiaCO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Costa RicaCR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CyprusCY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CzechiaCZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DenmarkDK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DominicaDM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Dominican RepublicDO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EgyptEG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GeorgiaGE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GreeceGR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GrenadaGD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Guinea-BissauGW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HungaryHU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndiaIN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndonesiaID | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IraqIQ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IrelandIE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JamaicaJM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JapanJP | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JordanJO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KenyaKE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MalawiMW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MexicoMX | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontenegroME | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontserratMS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NamibiaNA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PalauPW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PhilippinesPH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RomaniaRO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SerbiaRS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| South AfricaZA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Sri LankaLK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TaiwanTW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TunisiaTN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UgandaUG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VenezuelaVE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VietnamVN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZambiaZM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZimbabweZW | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.