Fresh sanctions add pressure to Iranian produce trade

The imposition of even harsher US sanctions on Iran have coincided with serious disruption to regional transport routes, with major consequences for both imports and exports of fresh produce in Iran, according to Alireza Emami, CEO of Zarrin Group.

“The latest measures introduced by the Trump administration in September 2026 add another layer to an already difficult trading environment,” he told Fruitnet . “For agricultural trade, even where food products themselves are not directly sanctioned, restrictions affecting banking, payments, insurance, transport and the willingness of international partners to engage with Iran can make ordinary imports and exports considerably more complicated and expensive.”

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced part of Iran’s trade to shift towards alternative road and rail routes, but these networks lack the infrastructure and capacity to replace the enormous volumes normally carried by sea.