Tehran, Iran, Aug.26
Trend:
The trade ties between Iran and Qatar have weakened due to US sanctions, the American working group in Qatar customs prevents the import of Iranian goods to this country, a source familiar with Iran and Qatar trade relations and the joint Chamber of Commerce told Trend.
"It has been for a while that the only exported goods to Qatar have been food items and construction materials, and it seems this is the last month when these items can be easily imported to Qatar," noted the source.
"Iran's oil and oil products sales to Qatar have been sanctioned since October, and export of aluminum, steel and copper has been sanctioned since June. The only way for businessmen is to change the source of their exports and to re-export products from Oman or their registered companies in Turkey or other countries," said the source referring to methods to evade the US sanctions.
"However, this method is only applicable for raw materials, as it can be said that they are from mines in Turkey, but there is no way to evade sanctions to export processed goods," the source stated.
"The US set up working groups in Qatar Customs to review the source of imports in this country and prevent delivery of the Iranian products, and Qataris are following US instruction step by step," the source noted.
"At the moment, construction materials and food items are being exported to Qatar, but from now Iran will export food items only. Qatar wants to buy livestock medicine and livestock including camel and a bread of sheep, but the increase of meat price limited the exports," the source said.