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EA’s Battlefield 3 has effectively been banned” in Iran, despite not receiving an official release in the territory.
AFP reports that the Iranian government has drawn exception to the game’s depiction of a clash between US forces on the Iraq-Iran border, and subsequently an air assault on Tehran.
EA does not have any official resellers in the territory, but as with many video games pirated copies were being widely distributed.
However, following a police statement confirming that "all computer stores are prohibited from selling this illegal game", authorities have begun to clamp down on any believed to be distributing the title.
This is the first time that a video game has received an official ban in the territory.
A number of raids on suspected retailers have already taken place, though many had already refused to stock it in anticipation of such a reaction.
An online pressure group, which has to date amassed 5,000 signatures from those opposing the games release, stated: "We understand that the story of a videogame is hypothetical but we believe the game is purposely released at a time when the US is pushing the international community into fearing Iran."
