Iran has decided to stop placing orders to import US-made cars, after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the move.

The order to halt the imports came from the Industry, Mining and Trade Minister, following a call by Khamenei last week, as the supreme leader stressed the importance of domestic production.

Iran had previously allowed 24 models manufactured by Chevrolet to be brought in via a third country, but import order placement for such cars has been disabled since Sunday.