Iran Ready to Boost Food Exports to Qatar

An Iranian official says the Islamic Republic is prepared to increase its food exports to Qatar after the recent rift between Doha and a number of Arab countries, which may influence Qatar’s food market.

The head of Iran’s Agricultural Products Exporters Union Seyyed Reza Noorani said the Islamic Republic is ready to export various types of agricultural and food products to Qatar through three Iranian port cities.

Saudi Arabia has closed Qatar’s only land border, and Iran, as the closest country to Qatar, can export food products to the Arab country through a 12-hour shipping lane, he added.

Three Iranian ports of Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Bandar Lengeh are now ready to be used for the dispatch of Iranian products to Qatar, Noorani went on to say.

Many people in Qatar have flocked to local supermarkets and grocery stores to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border.

80% of Qatar’s food imports are via a Persian Gulf Cooperation Council food trade supply chain, and unless the crisis is resolved immediately, there will be shortages, according to industry sources.

Early on Monday, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Yemen, Libya, the Mauritius Republic, and the Maldives also joined them later.

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