Tehran – Iran exported some 100 tons of saffron in the first half of the current Iranian year (March 21–September 22), marking a 74 percent increase in volume compared with the same period last year, according to the Vice President of the country’s National Saffron Council.

 

Gholamreza Miri said that saffron cultivation currently covers about 127,000 hectares nationwide, concentrated mainly in the provinces of Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, and North Khorasan, while a total of 27 provinces are engaged in production.

 

He highlighted the crop’s economic significance, noting that the saffron industry provides direct employment to around 700,000 people, and supports nearly 3 million workers across the broader value chain — from cultivation and processing to packaging, marketing, and export.

 

“Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Iran produced approximately 450 tons of saffron last year.”

 

As head of the Saffron Exporters Union, Miri added that during the first half of the current year, Iran exported 100 tons of saffron to international markets — marking a 74% increase compared with the same period last year, when total exports reached 57 tons.

 

He underscored the need to eliminate export restrictions, support processing companies, and reform currency regulations to improve the business environment.

 

Despite ongoing sanctions, Miri noted that Iranian saffron is currently exported to 71 countries, and that resolving regulatory and financial obstacles could significantly strengthen Iran’s global position in the saffron market.