Iran furious its athletes miss out on Samsung smartphone gifts at Winter Olympics               

The Olympic committee made a U-turn decision on Thursday to allow athletes from Iran and North Korea to receive Samsung’s newest smartphones as a gift from the winter Olympics after Iran objected to its participants missing out as an “insult.”

The International Olympic Committee, who had initially declined to comment, changed their minds for athletes from both countries but asked North Korean Olympians not to take the devices back to their country. It was not clear if IOC had made a U-turn under pressure. 

Samsung wants to give phones to North Korea’s Olympians. Big problem

“The IOC will provide mobile phones to all athletes of all countries taking part at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018,” an official said.

“Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones. Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country.” 

Iran had earlier summoned the South Korean ambassador in Tehran to voice displeasure after its athletes in Pyeongchang were not given one of 4,000 new Samsung smartphones, apparently due to concerns over sanctions. 

Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Thursday, gave an ultimatum to Samsung to overturn the decision immediately, threatening to give up using his personal Samsung. 

Zarif, an active Twitter user on his Samsung, is relatively popular in Iran, mainly thanks to his role in securing the 2015 landmark nuclear deal. 

The head of Iran’s national Olympic committee, Reza Salehi Amiri, added: “We won’t keep silent in face of insults to our national pride, identity and dignity.” 

South Korea’s ambassador was made clear of Iran’s objection, being told that the move was “unethical” and violated “the spirit of the Olympic Games,” Iran’s IRNA state news agency reported, quoting foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Qasemi. 

The South Korean company has a huge business presence in Iran but Iranian and North Korean athletes were the only ones initially blocked from the giveaway of the new US$1,100 (HK$8,600) limited-edition Galaxy Note 8, Iranian media said, reportedly due to fears of breaking US sanctions. 

North Korean Olympians barred from bringing home smartphones and luxury gifts 

All nuclear-related sanctions were lifted on Iran in January 2016, but many businesses, including major banks, still err on the side of caution due to existing sanctions relating to terrorism and human rights as well as the fear of sanctions returning. 

Samsung has not commented on the matter.