Enables iron ion transmembrane transporter activity. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including embryonic hemopoiesis; hemoglobin biosynthetic process; and response to copper ion. Predicted to be located in late endosome membrane and lysosome. Predicted to be active in endosome membrane; lysosomal membrane; and plasma membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including alar plate midbrain region; digestive system; hematopoietic system; solid lens vesicle; and ventral mesoderm. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including anemia (multiple); autoimmune disease (multiple); inflammatory bowel disease (multiple); leishmaniasis (multiple); and tuberculosis (multiple). Orthologous to several human genes including SLC11A2 (solute carrier family 11 member 2).