Tehran Customs Department imported $160 million worth of cars in the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2013).
Ahmad Kargari, the head of the department, also said imports pertained to under 2500cc cars, Fars News Agency reported. The official noted that the department imported $320 million worth of essential commodities in this period. “Medicines constituted 50 percent of the commodities while chicken, butter, red meat and corn topped the list of imports,” Kargari said. Recently, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei outlined the principles of “Economy of Resistance”, stressing the need to wean the country off luxury imports. In response to a question about pursuing the bases of “Economy of Resistance”, Kargari said regulations must be devised to distinguish luxury products from consumer goods. “A list of luxury and essential commodities must be prepared and regulations should be adopted to help prevent economic fluctuations,” he said.