TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at a meeting of the Central Province Carpet Working Group, Zahra Kamani said a new wave of specialized activities has emerged across the country, driven by committed stakeholders with a development-oriented vision and effective institutional support. She described the movement as a coordinated national push to revive the prestige of Iranian carpets worldwide.

Kamani noted that one of the most encouraging signs is the growing number of well-organized, consecutive carpet exhibitions and specialized events being held in various provinces. Supported by provincial governors and executive bodies, these events have helped lay the foundation for a strong, unified national movement in the sector.

She highlighted Central Province as a historical leader in economically driven carpet production, emphasizing its centuries-old role in carpet trade and diplomacy. “When we speak of Sultanabad and Arak, we are referring to generations of export-oriented knowledge and commercial intelligence,” Kamani said, adding that this legacy can once again become a driving force behind Iran’s carpet exports.

According to Kamani, order-based production, the identification of new domestic and international partners, and adapting producers’ artistic skills to the evolving demands of global markets have created a new and serious competitive environment within the industry.

She added that Arak carpets, known for their authenticity and quality, are displayed not only in museums around the world but also in the homes of people across many countries, reflecting the cultural and artistic reach of Iranian carpets.

Kamani said the carpet value chain is gradually being completed, with modern, well-equipped factories moving toward renovation and demand creation. These efforts, she noted, are aimed at enabling Iran to capture a larger share of regional markets.

Referring to developments over the past ten months, she said a strategic approach has taken shape at the National Iranian Carpet Center with strong managerial backing. The formation of the Supreme Carpet Council and the activation of specialized committees—through cooperation with the Iran Chamber of Commerce’s Art, Handicrafts and Carpet Commission, carpet producers and exporters’ unions, and other associations—have created what she described as a powerful triangle of collaboration.

This round-the-clock cooperation has produced significant results in documenting Iran’s handwoven carpet heritage. Kamani cited the establishment of the Iranian Carpet Documentation Center, the compilation of an encyclopedia of handwoven carpets, and efforts to strengthen the sector’s digital reference authority. These measures aim to prevent cultural distortion and the misappropriation of Iranian designs.

She added that recording the oral history of carpet weaving and collecting the generational knowledge of master artisans are also key priorities.

In the field of foreign trade, Kamani said specialized negotiations are underway to remove export barriers. She emphasized the importance of resolving foreign exchange repatriation requirements, describing the issue as one of the main concerns of carpet exporters. The matter, she said, has been pursued in multiple meetings with the government and is now ready to be raised at the Cabinet level.

Kamani also stressed the need for active participation in economic and trade events, noting that such platforms could mark a turning point in the expansion of Iran’s non-oil exports and further showcase the international potential of handwoven carpets.

She said several regional carpet designs have the capacity for national and global registration. Preparatory mapping for these designs should be completed quickly, she added, with national registration possible by the end of the year and global registration to follow next year.

Referring to the 2017 Law on Supporting Artists, Kamani said the legislation offers valuable opportunities to support research projects and academic theses related to carpets. The National Iranian Carpet Center, she said, is ready to use this capacity to strengthen the cultural and artistic dimensions of the sector, despite the lack of funding allocated when the law was first adopted.

Kamani acknowledged challenges related to Social Security regulations, noting that while some private-sector demands face legal limitations, the center’s goal is to ensure that the voices of carpet producers and industry veterans are heard. She expressed hope that cooperation with relevant institutions would lead to brighter days for Iran’s handwoven carpets.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Baharvand, CEO of the Central Union of Rural Handwoven Carpets of Iran, highlighted persistent structural challenges in the industry. He said organizing insurance for carpet weavers, clarifying value-added tax regulations, and supporting access to raw materials are unavoidable priorities. “Carpet Exports”

Baharvand called for reforms to the weavers’ insurance system and greater transparency in tax regulations, noting that inconsistencies across provinces have caused confusion among industry players. He suggested Central Province could serve as a pilot region for the transparent implementation of relevant laws.

He also pointed to problems caused by the past issuance of non-specialized carpet-weaving cards to individuals in unrelated professions, which placed a heavy financial burden on the government and the Social Security Organization.

Regarding raw materials, Baharvand said repeated requests for foreign currency allocations to import silk and wool have gone unanswered. He stressed that carpet exporters already contribute significantly to the country’s exports and that proper banking support and production facilities could enable further growth across Iran’s provinces.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking to ILNA, Kamani highlighted that exports are no longer limited to official customs channels, with a portion of carpets leaving the country via suitcase trade or through intermediary nations. This resilience underscores the enduring global appeal of Iranian handwoven carpets, even as competitors like India, China, and Egypt intensify their efforts to dominate the international market.

Kamani emphasized the pivotal role of Iran’s private sector in sustaining the carpet industry. “Private sector associations have long been the standard-bearers of Iranian carpets,” she said. “Their personal investments have kept the industry alive, proudly raising the flag of Iranian carpets in various countries.” She called for greater collaboration among industry stakeholders, suggesting the creation of a unified platform to bring together designers, dyers, weavers, restorers, and traders. Such synergy, she argued, would enhance the visibility of each segment’s capabilities and bolster the industry as a whole.

Innovation, paired with a commitment to preserving tradition, was another key focus of Kamani’s remarks. She urged the industry to adopt modern technologies and innovative approaches to stay competitive, noting that Iran’s rivals are leveraging advanced methods to capture market share. “Our competitors are smartly working to outpace us, while we remain stuck in traditional methods,” she warned. “We have yet to fully embrace modern marketing and sales strategies.” Kamani believes that integrating technologies like artificial intelligence could revolutionize the industry, provided authenticity—a hard-earned hallmark of Iranian carpets—remains intact. “I advocate for technological advancement with utmost caution to safeguard our heritage,” she stressed.

Kamani identified India, China, and Egypt as Iran’s primary competitors in the global handwoven carpet market. These countries have secured top rankings by modernizing their industries with cutting-edge technology. She also noted that Afghanistan and Pakistan have surpassed Iran in carpet finishing and restoration, largely due to Iran’s struggles with external sanctions and internal limitations. “To foreign sanctions, we must add our own self-imposed restrictions,” she remarked.

Among these domestic hurdles, Kamani singled out the currency repatriation law as particularly burdensome for exporters. Additionally, the temporary transit of handmade carpets is constrained by tight deadlines, while the critical areas of restoration and finishing remain neglected in Iran. Turkey, she pointed out, has capitalized on this gap, employing Iranian restorers to boost its own economy. High import tariffs on raw materials, currency fluctuations, and the inability of Iranian exporters to open letters of credit (unlike their competitors) further complicate the situation. Kamani called for export incentives to alleviate these pressures and level the playing field.

Despite these obstacles, Iranian carpets maintain a foothold in global markets. “Not all exports go through customs,” Kamani explained. “Some are carried out through suitcases, others via third countries. This shows that, despite all limitations, Iranian carpets still have devoted fans worldwide.”

Kamani asserted that no competitor has yet surpassed the artistry of Iranian carpets. While rivals may excel in mass production and commercial strategies, the unique appeal of Iranian craftsmanship endures. “Museums around the world still seek to acquire even a single Iranian rug,” she noted proudly.

She attributed this lasting value to the superior quality of Iran’s raw materials and the expertise of its weavers. Wool from regions like Kermanshah, Sirjan, and Sistan offers unmatched durability for everyday carpets, yet Kamani lamented that India has been importing Iranian wool to enhance its own products. Iran also excels in producing plant-based dyes from its rich pastures and deserts, yielding stable colors that endure for centuries. “Thanks to our materials and skilled weavers, Iranian carpets can last over 100 years,” she said.

Kamani emphasized that Iranian carpets transcend mere consumer goods. “They are works of art, not just luxury items,” she said. “Iranian carpets are a global brand—we don’t need to build recognition from scratch.” However, she stressed the need to expand market reach beyond traditional buyers and appeal to younger generations through modern strategies.

In conclusion, while Iran’s carpet industry faces stiff competition and structural challenges, its global reputation remains unrivaled. By blending innovation with tradition, Kamani believes Iran can not only preserve its legacy but also reclaim its dominance in the international market.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – The Caretaker of Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade says due to the sanctions, Iran’s carpet export is experiencing its worst condition as the revenue in this sector has slumped to from $2b to $60m.

Speaking in the ceremony of signing agreement for  constructing 800 kilometers of railroad, Hossein Modarres Khiabani said the ministry has an expanded plan for increasing the steel production capacity as the country exported 57m tons of different steel products and increasing the amount of exports needs boosting transportation sector.

He said steel ingot export will increase from 28m tons to 42m tons and today 26m tons of different types of steel products will be added to the list of exports.

Modarres Khiabani added that one of the important factors in export of steel is the logistic and transportation, adding that today the project for construction of 800 kilometers of railroad between Bafq and Sangan which is launched is an important event in the cargo transportation field and the project will definitely help provision of raw material in the country and at the same time it will help exports.

He emphasized the share of rail transportation from the total transportation in the country is extremely low, adding that rail transportation for transfer of cargo and passengers should be boosted.

He further said that transportation of basic goods has improved from 10 percent two years ago to 25 percent but it is still unacceptable.

Modarres Khiabani reiterated that production without developing infrastructures and logistic as well as growth in transportation sector is impossible.

He pointed to the capacities of mines in the country, adding that Iran’s mineral reserves are estimated at 53b tons as the ministry has issued license for exploiting 700m tons but only 500m tons have been exploited.

He noted that while Iran accounts for one percent of world population, its mineral reserves are 2 percent and mines are the only major option for replacement for oil revenues.

Modarres Khiabani added that the burden of oil sanctions is currently on the shoulder of mines sector, adding that if Iran’s economy is single-product, it only belongs to the mine sector.

He said undoubtedly shipment of 500m tons of minerals through road transportation is impossible and rail transport should also enter the scene.

He once again reiterated that in industry ministry, there is nothing more important than domestic production, expressing satisfaction that a dairy producing company exports products worth $600m.

On the condition of carpet exports, he said unfortunately due to sanctions, the carpet export experiences the worst condition as the revenues of this sector from export has fallen from $2b to $60m.

Modarres Khiabani reiterated that the ministry only believes in imports of three types of goods and they should be raw material, basic goods and parts which are not produced domestically.

Later during the ceremony marking the national industry and mine day, he said today industry accounts for 23 percent  of jobs in the country and 76 percent of the total non-oil exports.

He further said that statistics show that the trade in the country is returning to the pre-Coronavirus  era.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Head of Iran National Carpet Center (INCC) Fereshteh Dastpak expressed hope that China would ease the ground for imports of silk for Iranian carpet weavers.

Speaking in the gathering  on reviewing Iran-China economic relations in Tehran, Dastpak said that hand-woven carpet is Iran’s oldest export stuff to China, adding that last month a huge artistic silk carpet, woven by 180 weavers from Isfahan Province based on a design from a Chinese artist, was handed over to one of China’s museums.

She added that carpet has always been the symbol of culture and traditions for Iran and it is somewhat a joint production of Iran and China.

She added that silk hand-woven carpets account for 20 percent of Iran’s carpet exports while 90 percent of silk for weaving carpet is imported from China, expressing hope that since carpet is a strategic production, China’s government would ease the ground for export of silk for Iranian weavers.

She added that carpet was the second target of the U.S. sanctions while over eight million people earn their lives in this industry, adding that 90 percent of Iran’s carpet products are exported.

She demanded China officials to help Iran to make the U.S. sanctions ineffective in order that Iran could export carpet to other countries via China.

She noted that Chinese people like Iranian carpets, expressed hope the trade between both countries in carpet sector along with exports would increase.

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