Azerbaijan, Baku, July 6/Trend/
Iranian pistachio exports increased by more than 150,000 tons during the last solar year, a 26 percent growth compared to the previous year, the IRNA reported, quoting Agriculture Ministry Fruit Department Managing Director Seyed Rahmatollah Parichehr.
"Despite sanctions, exports increased and Iran became the top pistachio producer in the world," he said.
According to EU health inspectors, Iran's pistachio industry has made remarkable progress during the past 5 years.
Seventy percent of Iranian pistachios are produced in the Kerman province.
The increase in Iran's trade comes despite tightened United States and European Union sanctions imposed since the summer of 2010 against the Islamic republic, especially targeting its oil sector, due to its disputed nuclear program.