The EPB has asked embassy officials to identify potential exportable items and to collect reports on the best products that can be adjusted to the Iranian market.
According to the EPB, Bangladesh exported USD 30.19 million worth of products to Iran during the July-November period of the current fiscal year.
The Bangladeshi exports to Iran mainly include jute, oil seeds, pharmaceuticals, kitchenware, plastics, vegetables, textile fibers, paper yarn, woven fabric, electronic equipment and stainless steel blade.
The push by Bangladesh for increased exports to Iran comes despite US-engineered sanctions against the Islamic Republic targeting other countries’ trade with Tehran.
At the beginning of 2012, the United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors.
On October 15, the EU foreign ministers agreed on another round of sanctions against Iran.
The US-engineered sanctions have been imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence showing that Tehran’s nuclear energy program has been diverted toward military objectives.
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