TEHRAN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran announced a plan to lower import tariffs on laptop in the coming months, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.

Head of Information Technology Union Mehdi Mir-Mehdi Komijani said the measure is adopted following private sector pressure and a rise in public demand.

Laptop tariffs, which were increased in the past four years from 5 percent to 15 percent, will return to the original rate by late March, Komijani was quoted as saying.

He added that the decision awaits the government's approval.

Figures suggest that higher tariffs reduced laptop imports through legal means, while smugglers seized the opportunity and took control of the market, said Iran's Information and Communication Technology Guild Organization.