Developing with a cross-platform kit like PhoneGap solves most of the issues here. You'll develop for multiple platforms simultaneously, and can tie into the native capabilities of the platform when necessary.
Absolutely. This piece tremendously downplays the access that Iranians have to outside information. I spent a wonderful three months in Tehran, and I'd wager a majority of Iranians have bypassed internet and television access controls put in place by the Government.