Iran Carpet Exports Up 17%

Iran exported $166 million worth of hand-woven carpets during the seven months to October 21, registering a 17% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year, according to the head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran.

“The US, Germany, the UAE, Pakistan and Lebanon are the main export destinations for Iranian carpets,” Mojtaba Khosrotaj was also quoted as saying by IRNA.

Iran’s carpet exports were hard hit as a result of sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear program. The United States—the biggest importer of Iran’s handmade rugs—banned the import of Iranian carpets, among other products, in September 2010.

Sanctions were lifted mid-January as part of a landmark nuclear deal the country signed with world powers last year. Iran agreed to limit the scope of its nuclear activities. Now that the sanctions are gone, exports are slowly gaining momentum.