Jessica Durando

USA TODAY

Iran has banned the Pokémon Go mobile gaming sensation, becoming the first country to do so over security concerns.

“Any game that wants to operate nationwide in Iran needs to obtain permission from the ministry of culture and Islamic guidance, and the Pokémon Go app has not yet requested such a permission,” Abolhasan Firouzabadi, the head of Iran’s supreme council of virtual space, told the ISNA news agency.

Iranian officials feel that security-wise, the game can create problems for the country and its people, according to the Guardian. The officials did not go into specifics on the security issues.

Iranians on social media have discussed playing the popular game recently, despite the country's many restrictions on Internet usage, according to the BBC. Iranian authorities use smart filtering software, a system that affects connectivity speeds and in many cases has replaced more traditional mechanisms for blocking Internet services, the Guardian reported.

Pokémon has become a global phenomenon since its release in July. It was launched first in the United States and then rolled out to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe.

The game also expanded to 15 new markets in Asia this month, including Indonesia, which boasts a population of 250 million. The game still does not operate in India, Korea or China, according to TechCrunch.

After several incidents, warnings about safe play pop up every time a user boots up the game.

Man killed while playing 'Pokemon Go' at San Francisco park

Players will see different ones each time, such as "Do not play Pokémon Go while driving" and "Do not enter dangerous areas while playing Pokémon Go."

The mobile game for iOS and Android features "pocket monsters" called Pokémon that players capture. It uses GPS to help players find Pokémon, and an augmented reality experience connected to the camera so it appears players catch Pokémon in the real world.

Contributing: Brett Molina