U.S. trade reports show that American exports to Iran have grown
sharply since 2001, even as the United States has called for tougher
international sanctions against the Tehran government.
In a
lengthy analysis of U.S.-Iranian trade Tuesday, the Associated Press
says American exports to Iran have shown enormous growth since
President George Bush took office in 2001, even though they remain only
a tiny fraction of overall U.S. sales abroad.
Exports to Iran last year were more than 10 times higher than during Mr. Bush's first year in office.
U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Iran of trying to build a nuclear arsenal and of supporting terrorists.
But
the State Department said today that the trade exemptions, which allow
some U.S. exports to reach Iran, may have a positive effect by helping
integrate Iranian consumers into the world economy.
None of the
shipments to Iran are described as illegal, but the AP study comments
that U.S. government agencies do not appear to have coordinated
policies on commercial trade with Tehran.
Since 2001, U.S.
shippers have sent to Iran food, medical and industrial supplies and
other goods worth nearly $550 million. The number-one American
export to Tehran has been cigarettes - $158 million worth, or over
one-quarter of all shipments, and by value more than twice as much as
the second-ranking export, vaccines.
Sanctions were first
imposed against Iran in 1979 and broadened since then. AP reports
total export sales to Iran in 2007 were $146 million, compared to $8.3
million in 2001, during Mr. Bush's first year in the White House.
Last
month, a U.S. Senate panel approved legislation that would tighten
sanctions imposed against Iran in connection with its nuclear program.
Iran also is under three sets of limited U.N. Security Council
sanctions for defying demands to stop enriching uranium - a process
that can be used to produce nuclear weapons.
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