The ban on rice imports, which was decided by the government back in March, is still in place, says deputy agriculture minister, Abbas Keshavarz. Recently critics have been complaining that despite the ban, rice imports have not stopped. They refer to Iran Customs Administration data that shows 149,000 tons of rice worth $153 million were imported to the country in the first two month of the current Iranian year (started March 21). The official explained the imports are associated with orders placed before the ban was imposed.
