International traders stop new food deals with Iran because of US sanctions
An |
Sources in the industry and the Iranian government say Cargill, Benji and other international traders have stopped food supply deals with Iran because new US sanctions have hit banking systems to make payments paralyzed .
Food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from US sanctions that Washington reintroduced this year after US President Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2015 .
But US sanctions targeting everything from oil sales to shipping and financial activities have distracted many foreign banks from doing business with Iran, including humanitarian deals. Despite its previous dealings with Iran in previous rounds of sanctions, many small banks have suspended their dealings with them this time .
"There is no real chance of getting money using the mechanisms currently in place and many international traders are unable to make new deals at the moment, " said a European source familiar with the situation, who declined to be named .
Cargill and Panji of the Americas and Singaporean companies are among the companies that have not been able to conclude new export deals for wheat, maize, raw sugar and other commodities because Western banks can not convert transaction payments with Iran, Western and Iranian trade sources said .
Cargill, Benji and Allam declined to comment when contacted by Reuters .
US sanctions took full effect on November 5, but Washington temporarily exempted some of its allies, who depend on Iranian oil imports .
Iran relies heavily on imported staple food and has years of experience in circumventing US and other Western sanctions, which have become stricter gradually between 2012 and 2015 until the Islamic Republic reaches an agreement on its nuclear program. Many penalties were lifted in 2016 after the agreement was concluded .
In previous rounds of sanctions, Iran has resorted to a handful of foreign banks, which have continued to serve as a conduit for payments to sustain food imports and other forms of trade .
But many of these channels of foreign banks were closed during this tour. Three Iranian officials told Reuters banking issues were behind the suspension of food and other trade .
"A handful of small European banks," which have little to do with the United States, are still working with Iran and deal only in small-scale deals, an industry, mining and trade official in Iran said .
"We are in talks with the Europeans to expand this network of banks and financial institutions .
" But many companies including Cargill and Benji told us at the moment that there are difficulties (banking) will force them to stop dealing with Iran ."
In May, the Swiss Trade and Investment Bank, a bank involved in humanitarian deals, said it had suspended all new deals with Iran .
Washington listed Germany-based European-European Commercial Bank (EIB) on a black list in November, closing down an institution which financial sources said had dealt with Iran on a limited scale between 2012 and 2016 .
The bank did not respond to requests for comment .
A number of Western banks that have been working with Iran since 2016 have returned. In June, Austrian bank Oberbank, one of the first European banks to reach a deal on new deals with Iran, said it had suspended deals with it .
Other banks have followed suit, including Danish bank Dansek and Deutsche Bank AG .
Belgium's KBC said in June it would limit Iran's transfers to humanitarian trade .
The bank did not say whether it would continue to transfer these payments when Reuters asked it this month, but said it was "reviewing its policy at a regular pace with full respect for all relevant laws ."
Dutch bank ABN Amro said it facilitated transfers related to food, health care, medical equipment and agriculture on a limited scale and with specific customers. But he also told Reuters that "recent restrictive measures on Iranian banks are a challenge ."
Yesterday at 7:17 pm by Rocky
» utube 10/12/24 MM&C Iraq News is Powerful - Minister of Finance to adhere to Time Tables - To Achie
Yesterday at 7:17 pm by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq: Cash Deposit Center to be Opened for All Customers
Yesterday at 7:13 pm by Rocky
» Central Bank Governor discusses with German Ambassador providing support to Al Riyada Bank
Yesterday at 7:10 pm by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: The Central Bank has taken steps to promote the use of electronic payment
Yesterday at 7:07 pm by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq announces the imminent opening of a cash deposit center in Karkh
Yesterday at 7:05 pm by Rocky
» South Gas announces contracting with a company to establish a gas import platform at Al-Faw Port
Yesterday at 7:04 pm by Rocky
» Work: We support the private sector and investment companies and give Iraqi workers the largest shar
Yesterday at 7:01 pm by Rocky
» Foreign remittance sales at the Central Bank of Iraq increased by 97%
Yesterday at 6:59 pm by Rocky
» In numbers.. The 2024 budget and the rate of Iraqi oil sales
Yesterday at 6:58 pm by Rocky
» Currency auction likely to be cancelled in response to international pressure to combat financial sm
Yesterday at 6:55 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee reiterates: Employees’ salaries are fully secured
Yesterday at 6:52 pm by Rocky
» Central Bank: Al-Riyada Bank for Financing Small Projects to Launch Its Services Soon
Yesterday at 6:49 pm by Rocky
» The Environment Ministry reveals to Al-Maalouma its measures against iron smelters
Yesterday at 6:48 pm by Rocky
» Security expert: Washington has shirked its responsibility to protect Iraqi airspace
Yesterday at 6:47 pm by Rocky
» MP calls on Parliament to enact a law to cancel privileges granted to Jordan
Yesterday at 6:45 pm by Rocky
» Baghdad Governor: Illegal factories and outdated refineries are causes of polluting emissions
Yesterday at 6:41 pm by Rocky
» Laying the foundation stone for the largest skyscraper in Baghdad
Yesterday at 6:40 pm by Rocky
» Service Effort of {Sabah}: Including 500 Projects in the 2025 Plan
Yesterday at 6:39 pm by Rocky
» Detailed designs for the development road to begin before the end of this year
Yesterday at 6:38 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy Committee discusses with the Central Bank of Iraq the reality of banks and the
Yesterday at 6:36 pm by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: The Central Bank has taken steps to promote the use of electronic payment
Yesterday at 6:34 pm by Rocky
» Identifying a “significant way” to change the state of the Ministry of Industry in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:23 pm by Rocky
» International report: Continuous exposure to the smell of sulfur in Baghdad will lead to major healt
Yesterday at 5:21 pm by Rocky
» Completion rate 50%.. Details of the Hit Residential Complex and the categories covered
Yesterday at 5:21 pm by Rocky
» Executive and legislative cooperation to enhance revenues
Yesterday at 5:19 pm by Rocky
» Service Effort: Implementation of (260) projects in Baghdad next year
Yesterday at 5:18 pm by Rocky
» Diversify income
Yesterday at 5:17 pm by Rocky
» Minister of Resources to Al-Sabah: Activating a memorandum of understanding with Egypt to combat des
Yesterday at 5:16 pm by Rocky
» European Union to Al-Sabah: We support Iraq's efforts to de-escalate
Yesterday at 5:15 pm by Rocky
» Distribution of 8 thousand residential plots in Wasit
Yesterday at 5:13 pm by Rocky
» Rehabilitation of electrical networks in Diwaniyah neighborhoods
Yesterday at 5:12 pm by Rocky
» Coordination between migration and planning to include displaced persons in the population census
Yesterday at 5:11 pm by Rocky
» Minister of Health to {Sabah}: 450 contracts concluded to supply cancer and heart treatment drugs
Yesterday at 5:09 pm by Rocky
» Public-Private Partnership: The Basis for Economic Renaissance
Yesterday at 5:07 pm by Rocky
» Sustainable Development Goals
Yesterday at 5:06 pm by Rocky
» Prime Minister's Advisor to {Al-Sabah}: Implementation of the 2024 budget is proceeding smoothly
Yesterday at 5:05 pm by Rocky
» 500 Ministers, Senior Officials and Decision Makers at Knowledge Summit 2024 in Dubai
Yesterday at 5:03 pm by Rocky
» Al-Mandlawi arrives in Geneva at the head of a parliamentary delegation
Yesterday at 5:01 pm by Rocky
» Zidane discusses with Russian ambassador the implementation of the memorandum of understanding with
Yesterday at 5:00 pm by Rocky
» Minister of Interior stresses the importance of continuing to train members of the Explosives Contro
Yesterday at 4:59 pm by Rocky
» With international participation...Basra University of Oil and Gas is preparing to hold its first in
Yesterday at 4:58 pm by Rocky
» Environment studies developing Najaf Sea Reserve
Yesterday at 4:57 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary meeting with the Minister of Finance and the heads of the Customs and Tax Authority
Yesterday at 4:56 pm by Rocky
» The Iraqi Stock Exchange opens its markets at a price of 152,800 dinars for every 100 dollars
Yesterday at 4:52 pm by Rocky
» Warning of Iraq losing political and economic independence due to “energy imports”: Shameful
Yesterday at 4:51 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to stop the tax increase related to the transfer of real estate ownership
Yesterday at 4:49 pm by Rocky
» Iraqi per capita income to decline by 22.4% in 2023
Yesterday at 4:48 pm by Rocky
» Global companies to revive stalled factories in Babylon
Yesterday at 4:46 pm by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to America rise
Yesterday at 4:45 pm by Rocky
» Ministry of Oil: We export 1000 tons of jet fuel daily
Yesterday at 4:44 pm by Rocky
» “To protect its airspace”.. Does Iraq have an advanced “defensive” missile system?
Yesterday at 4:42 pm by Rocky
» Iraq secures the skies clouded by the occupier's aircraft and reduces the area of the violated air
Yesterday at 4:41 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary committee reveals reasons for reducing the region's oil production by half
Yesterday at 4:39 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Environment: Pollution in Iraq is the highest in the world
Yesterday at 4:38 pm by Rocky
» Taif Sami: The regional government has not handed over its oil revenues to the state treasury
Yesterday at 4:37 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives Iranian Foreign Minister
Yesterday at 4:35 pm by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses to the Iranian Foreign Minister the necessity of preventing a
Yesterday at 4:34 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iran is a neighboring country linked to Iraq in many areas
Yesterday at 4:33 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee hosts Finance Minister Taif Sami
Yesterday at 4:31 pm by Rocky
» Trump exposed to third assassination attempt
Yesterday at 4:27 pm by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region Elections Approaching.. Here are the Latest Developments and Number of Complaints a
Yesterday at 4:25 pm by Rocky
» New decline in dollar exchange rates in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:24 pm by Rocky
» Government moves to include displaced families in the population census.. How many are they?
Yesterday at 4:23 pm by Rocky
» The rise in the dollar price caused a decline in the wages of Wasit workers
Yesterday at 4:21 pm by Rocky
» Basra Integrity Committee opens investigation into foreign labor file.. What about Iraqi graduates?
Yesterday at 4:20 pm by Rocky
» "Suspicious" details from inside: Karbala refinery will stop.. Iraq received it with 70 defects in c
Yesterday at 4:17 pm by Rocky
» MM&C 10/13/24 Iraq calls for banking policy change: Raise interest rates, adopt fintech
Yesterday at 3:19 am by Rocky
» Iraq in the crosshairs of cyber attacks: Dismantling suspicious contracts is a necessity to protect
Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:06 pm by Rocky
» Real Estate Market: A Haven for Money Laundering and Projects Targeting Wealthy Elites
Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:04 pm by Rocky
» Resuming morning and evening shifts at registration complexes in Baghdad and the governorates
Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:02 pm by Rocky
» Washington begins deploying the latest air defense systems in the Silk Road
Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:01 pm by Rocky
» Iraqi Parliament Discusses Budget Law with Finance Minister, Customs and Tax Officials
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:59 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Services: Governmental move to implement a package of new projects
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:58 pm by Rocky
» Bitcoin has an unusually quiet period awaiting the results of the US elections
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:56 pm by Rocky
» Iraq's oil production in September is less than its OPEC+ quota
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:55 pm by Rocky
» Finance offers government bonds worth up to 1.3 trillion dinars
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:54 pm by Rocky
» With the opening of trading on the stock exchange.. 1531 dinars per dollar
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:53 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Determines Reasons for Reducing Oil Production in Iraq
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:52 pm by Rocky
» More than $270 million in central bank sales at today's auction
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:51 pm by Rocky
» Ministerial committee to study {sulfur emissions}
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:49 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani reviews the commission's preparations for the regional elections
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:48 pm by Rocky
» 135 investment opportunities in the industrial sector
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:47 pm by Rocky
» Completion of (26) schools within the Chinese loan in Maysan
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:45 pm by Rocky
» Committees to establish an artificial intelligence department in vocational schools
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:44 pm by Rocky
» Early 2025.. Advanced electronic campaign to detect weapons
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:43 pm by Rocky
» Are Iraq's oil budget estimates realistic? Experts answer /Nina/ realistically and accurately
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:41 pm by Rocky
» Minister of Industry inaugurates Baghdad Industry and Mining Forum
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:39 pm by Rocky
» Rafidain announces the implementation of the comprehensive banking system in 44 branches
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:38 pm by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to the United States rose last week
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:37 pm by Rocky
» Finance announces the issuance of the third issue of “Injaz” government bonds
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:36 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee reveals the most important files of Araghchi's visit to Bagh
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:33 pm by Rocky
» US Congressional delegation assures Nechirvan Barzani of continued support for Kurdistan Region
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:30 pm by Rocky
» Between Netanyahu’s “crazy” plans and Iran’s nuclear program, Washington complains to Baghdad about
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:29 pm by Rocky
» Baghdad Chamber of Commerce: Kurdistan Region and the Center Agree to Resolve Trade Problems
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:27 pm by Rocky
» Election struggle in the region: The Kurdish Change Movement.. How can the “ruins of a scattered par
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:26 pm by Rocky
» Parliamentary praise for government financial support for {Guests of Iraq}
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:25 pm by Rocky
» Baghdad will cover the deficit in Kurdistan employees’ salaries for September, and a source reveals
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:24 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to stop the tax increase related to the transfer of real estate ownership
Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:23 pm by Rocky