Watermelon exports fell 40% in the first quarter of the current Iranian Year (started March 21), according to statistics released by Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. Deputy minister of agriculture Abbas Keshavarz was quoted by ISNA as saying that the exports nearly ceased following accusations by the UAE that Iranian watermelons were injected with poison, however, exports to Iraq and other countries continue. The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water recently admitted that the accusations were baseless and Iranian watermelons were free of any contaminants. According to Keshavarz, the accusations were politically motivated. Iraq is still the main buyer of Iranian watermelons accounting for 64% of exports, followed by Turkey, having replaced the UAE as the second buyer, with about 18% of exports.
