Iran exports 'on rise' despite sanctions

Alternative News |In the wake of Western-imposed sanctions targeting the Iranian energy and financial sectors, Iran says the value of its exports has exceeded 78.5 billion dollars with a 12.7 increase in non-oil exports.

According to statistics provided by Iran's Fars news agency, the value of the country's oil and non-oil exports reached more than 78.5 billion dollars during the first 11 months of the last Persian calendar year (March 2009-February 2010).
Iran exported 59.55 billion dollars of oil, oil products, natural gas and gas condensate in 11 months, undergoing a drop of 24.3 percent in comparison with the same period in the previous year.

This is while, Iran's non-oil exports reached some 19 billion dollars, indicating a 12.7 percent increase compared with last year's figures.

The figures were released weeks after the majority of the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC) voted in favor of a US-drafted fourth round of sanctions which broadened previous financial and military restrictions against Iran.

The US spearheaded efforts for the imposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program despite the fact that it possesses and has used nuclear weapons in the past.

This is while, numerous reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency have confirmed that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons.

In addition to the UNSC sanctions, the US and the European Union agreed to impose unilateral sanctions on Iran's oil and gas sectors.

Iran has repeatedly shrugged off sanctions, saying such punitive measures will have no impact on the country.

Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Ali Reza Zeighami said on Thursday that despite sanctions, Iran would achieve self-sufficiency in the production of gasoline within two years, adding that the country would begin gasoline export afterwards.

He added that Iran imports 18 to 20 million liters of gasoline per day, while it produces 43 million liters.