TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at the National Assembly of the Supreme Council of Provinces on Thursday, Nouri emphasized the significant role of the people in Iran’s Islamic Revolution, highlighting that the country’s constitution remains one of the most progressive globally. Despite its potential, he noted that Iran has yet to fully utilize the depth of its constitutional capacities.

Nouri revealed that various agricultural projects amounting to over 250 trillion rials, creating 114,000 job opportunities, will be inaugurated during this year’s anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. He acknowledged the improvements made since the revolution, particularly in expanding services to underprivileged rural areas. However, he stressed the need for further efforts to enhance the quality of life for the people.

Highlighting his ministry’s achievements, Nouri stated that in the last nine months, agricultural exports exceeded the 35% growth mark. He recalled a time when agricultural products were wasted due to a lack of proper planning. Now, with better management, these products are exported, contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Discussing specific exports, he mentioned that Iran’s kiwi, previously under sanctions, has now successfully entered international markets. However, he acknowledged that this led to a price hike in the domestic market, necessitating a review of export policies to ensure affordability for local consumers.

Nouri also addressed concerns over self-imposed restrictions on certain agricultural products, such as pistachios, stating that despite initial fears, pistachio exports have more than doubled. “These successes are the result of strategic planning and did not happen by chance,” he added.

The minister emphasized that Iran has significantly reduced its imports of essential commodities like tea and rice. He defended recent pricing policies, including setting higher prices for high-quality rice and raw silk, arguing that these measures support local farmers. He further explained that importers are now required to purchase domestic products before receiving import quotas, ensuring fair market competition and protecting local industries.

Nouri reassured that outstanding payments to farmers for wheat, rapeseed, and soybeans from the past three years have been settled. He also highlighted the establishment of a stable pricing system for saffron through the commodities exchange, ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their produce.

Addressing food security concerns, he noted that despite fluctuations in international markets and currency exchange rates, the government has successfully stabilized domestic prices. For instance, red meat prices have remained within a ±1.4% range, while chicken prices have fluctuated by only ±3% over the past year, ensuring market stability.

Nouri condemned unfair pricing practices, particularly in the retail sector. He cited examples where fruits like apples and oranges were purchased at wholesale markets for 36,000–30,000 rials per kilogram but were later sold at retail stores for nearly double the price. He called for stricter oversight, stating that it is unfair for farmers, who work tirelessly for a year, to earn only a 30% profit while retailers demand a 120% markup.

Regarding concerns over high rice prices, he dismissed rumors of 200,000 rial per kilogram rice as misinformation. Investigations revealed that some traders attempted to manipulate prices in anticipation of increased demand ahead of the New Year. However, he assured that there was no official confirmation of such high prices in Tehran’s major markets.

Nouri warned that while fair trade practices are encouraged, the government will take firm action against those who attempt to manipulate food prices for personal gain. He cited the recent potato price surge as an example, attributing it to middlemen seeking higher profits. While the government has the authority to intervene, outright bans on exports are not permitted by law. Instead, temporary control measures were applied to stabilize the market.

He acknowledged supply issues with butter and potatoes earlier this year, but assured that coordinated efforts with industry stakeholders helped restore market balance. “We must ensure that neither farmers nor consumers are exploited,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the minister emphasized that the Agriculture Ministry is committed to supporting local producers while maintaining food affordability for the public. He vowed to crack down on any market disruptions that threaten economic stability and the livelihoods of Iranian farmers.

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Mehrdad Jamal Orounaqi, the IRICA deputy head for technical affairs, said that over 2.5 million tons of agricultural products worth more than $1.7 billion has been exported in the four-month period.

The main foodstuffs and agricultural products exported during this period were tomatoes, pistachios, watermelons, tomato paste, cheese, apples, melons, potatoes, dates and various sweets, the official stated, and named Iraq, China, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates as the main export destinations of the products.

Despite the economic sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and the current drought, the value of exported agricultural products has increased in value compared to the same period last year, he said and expressed hope that this upward trend will continue through taking the needed measures by the related organizations.

The IRICA head has put Iran’s four-month non-oil export at 38.3 million tons valued at $14.3 billion, with a 65-percent rise in value and a 27-percent growth in weight.

He has mentioned liquefied gas, polyethylene, iron semi-finished products, methanol, gasoline, iron and steel ingots, steel products, iron rods, liquid propane, bitumen, and copper cathode as the main exported products in the said time span.

He said major export destinations of the Iranian non-oil goods were China with about 10 million tons worth $4.3 billion, Iraq with 10.9 million tons worth $2.8 billion, the United Arab Emirates with 4.3 million tons worth $1.6 billion, Turkey with one million tons worth $923 million, and Afghanistan with 1.8 million tons worth $728 million.

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“We have very good trade relations with Iraq and a large amount of our goods are exported to this country”, Khavazi stated.

“We are happy that relations with Iraq are expanding day by day and we are ready to sign a long-term contract with our neighbor in the agricultural sector”, the official added.

“To cooperate in different sectors, we must have a timetable that fits the agricultural calendars of the two countries”, Khavazi said, adding, “There is a good ground for importing goods that we import from other countries that we can supply from Iraq to help our trade balance.”

In mid-January, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, who is the head of the Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Committee, said that the two countries’ annual trade is going to be increased to $20 billion.

Ardakanian made the remarks in the opening ceremony of the two countries’ fourth Joint Economic Committee meeting in Tehran, which he co-chaired with the Iraqi Trade Minister Alla Ahmed Al-Jubouri.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to support the export of Iranian engineering and technical services to Iraq by establishing a joint investment fund,” he said, adding that new agreements are going to be signed between the two countries in the fields of water and energy.

He also underlined the development of transportation lines between the two countries as an important factor in the development of trade relations between the two countries and added: “We are ready to implement the previous agreements in the fields of electricity, gas, and water, and to formulate new agreements in this field in order to develop cooperation between the two countries.”

The official further called for signing agreements for cooperation in other fields including double taxation, investment, preferential tariffs, and customs.

Ardakanian also mentioned the positive political relations between the two countries as a base for boosting economic relations.

He expressed hope that with the efforts of the two countries’ governments and businessmen, the development of trade and economic relations between the two sides will become smoother and the talks in the Joint Economic Committee meeting will lead to the signing of documents to develop bilateral cooperation.

Further in the meeting, Al-Jubouri said the presence of a high-ranking Iraqi delegation at the two countries’ Joint Economic Committee meeting is an indication of Iraq’s determination for boosting cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to identify and eliminate existing obstacles in the way of the two sides’ trade development and to take the necessary measures.

“Given the important relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq, both countries can help each other by sharing their experiences and technical knowledge to have good cooperation on important economic issues,” he stressed.

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Over the same period of time, 12,806 tons of agricultural products valued at %6.8 billion were imported to the country, down 1.2 percent in terms of weight and 7 percent in terms of value, he added.

“Meanwhile, the country exported food products to the tune of $2 million during the 8-month period, an increase of 24 percent compared to the same period last year.”

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