Iran sharply boosts food imports amid US threats

Amid expectations of possible attacks by the United States, Iran has sharply increased imports of essential goods, primarily grain, vegetable oils and oilseeds.

A week ago, on January 19, against the backdrop of reports about potential U.S. strikes, Iran’s Customs Administration recorded a record volume of imports of basic necessities. In just one day, about 183,000 tonnes of food products were brought into the country, customs officials said.

According to the data, the imported essential goods were delivered to various provinces across Iran by 8,030 trucks.

On that day alone, more than 8,000 heavy trucks transported approximately 75,800 tonnes of wheat, 54,900 tonnes of corn, 15,000 tonnes of barley, 16,700 tonnes of soybean meal, 2,630 tonnes of rice, 3,110 tonnes of vegetable oil and around 12,000 tonnes of oilseeds into the country.

Iran is also replenishing its reserves of grain-based food products, sugar, medicines and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, tensions around Iran continue to rise. According to media reports, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was urgently moved to a fortified underground bunker in Tehran after security warnings about a high likelihood of a U.S. strike. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that an American naval flotilla is heading toward Iran’s shores, stating that its purpose is deterrence, although in Tehran these moves were viewed as preparations for possible aggression.

Tags: oilseeds, USA, edible oils, Iran, grain