Iran no longer exports watermelons to the United Arab Emirates, ISNA quoted deputy agriculture minister, Abbas Keshavarz, as saying adding that Egypt will now be the new export destination. The decision came after a series of allegations by certain Emirati media that Iranian watermelons are contaminated, which resulted in the rejection of shipments of the fruit by UAE customs officials. Later, however, the Emirati Ministry of Environment and Water admitted that the allegations were baseless and that Iranian watermelons were free from chemical substances, insecticides, or other contaminants. According to Keshavarz the allegations have been politically motivated.