Growth in Germany's Exports to Iran despite Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – German exports to Iran rose by about 33 percent in the first eight months of the current year, despite sanctions imposed by the west against the Islamic Republic over its peaceful nuclear program.
Data released on Tuesday by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany show that exports to Iran rose by 32.7 percent to 1.6 billion euros in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year.
In 2013, the exports slumped by 26 percent and in the two previous years they fell by more than 18 percent, Reuters reported.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, is traditionally Iran's most important trading partner in the 28-nation European Union.
The increase in Germany's exports to Iran came after Iran and the six nations (known as G5+1, P5+1 or E3+3) on November 24, 2013, signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran's decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.
Iranian officials emphasized that a final, comprehensive agreement on Tehran’s nuclear energy program should entitle Iran to continue enriching uranium on its soil and remove the whole sanctions imposed on the country.
