Battlefield 3 banned in Iran

EA’s Battlefield 3 has been banned in Iran, with police allegedly raiding shops stocking the game and arresting anyone caught trying to sell it.

This is fairly understandable when you consider that the game depicts a US led invasion of Iran, as well as gunfights in realistically rendered versions of landmarks such as Tehran’s Grand Bazaar.

A police statement has been released 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.

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.”