Financial Tribune - Iran exported $13.5 million worth of commodities to the United States during the first two months of 2017, which figure stood at $2.1 million for the corresponding period of 2016. Iran’s imports from the US fell 72% to $12.2 million during the two-month period, the US Census Department reported.

The increase in exports owes to the removal of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program in early 2016, which paved the way for the resumption of Iranian shipments to the US, mainly hand-woven carpets, saffron, pistachio and caviar as the trade of these commodities was banned under the sanctions.