Tehran - Iran has established trade “green corridors,” particularly with neighboring countries, and allocated $1.2 billion in foreign currency for the import of essential goods over the past two weeks, Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri said.

 

Nouri said the government is treating support for the production, distribution, and consumption chains of agricultural products and basic commodities as a high priority.

 

“Ensuring stable access to essential goods is being pursued with special sensitivity by both the government and the Ministry of Agriculture,” he noted.

 

The minister stressed that food and medicine are exempt from sanctions under international norms.

 

“Food and pharmaceuticals are not sanctioned anywhere in the world, and under international human rights principles, imposing restrictions on people’s access to food is prohibited,” he said.

 

The minister said various economic and support packages have been proposed, and contingency decisions have been taken to address different market conditions and supply scenarios.

 

Referring to coordinated government efforts to improve the effectiveness of subsidy reforms, Nouri said the Agriculture Ministry has also developed measures to address foreign currency claims by importers.

 

“Within this framework, and in cooperation with the Central Bank, $1.2 billion in foreign exchange has been allocated for essential goods imports over the past two weeks. Additional proposals will be submitted to the government in the near future,” he said.