TEHRAN: Iran has earned about $148 billion worth of exporting oil and non-oil goods in the past calendar year, which ended on March 19, accor­ding to officials and data.  Iran's non-oil exports surged to nearly $48 billion in the year to mid-March despite tough Western sanctions to rein in Tehran's civil nuclear program.  Iran also has earned about $100 billion by exporting oil during the mentioned year.   Overall exports excluding crude oil hit $48 billion, Kiumars Fathollah Kermanshahi, a deputy head ofIran's Trade Promotion Organisation, told the official IRNA news agency.  Iran raked in $43.8 billion for exporting products other than oil, and a further $4.2 billion for exporting technological services, Kermanshahi said.  Exports of non-oil products during same period a year before were worth $34 billion, excluding technological services.

But more than half of what the exports generated were raised by a large growth in the amount of petrochemical products and gas condensates ex­ported, figures released by Iran's customs showed.  The boost was realized due to an increase in Iran's production of the two products in the past year, and their rising value in the global markets because of soaring oil prices.

The export of petrochemicals saw a 55-percent boost, amounting to $15 billion, and that of gas condensates was raised by 36 percent, bringing in $10 billion, according to the figures.  China, the United Arab Emirates-- which acts as the hub for the re-export of goods to Iran-- as well as Iraq and India have emerged as the main destinations for the country's non-oil goods.

For its oil exports, Iran, the OPEC oil cartel's second largest producer, is estimated by Iranian media to have generated $100 billion during the sa­me period.  Iran earned about $78 billion by exporting oil during the year before that. It exports most of its crude oil to China, India, Japan and South Korea. Official figures for the past year have yet to be released.

The sharp increase in Iranian exports came against the backdrop of a tough trade and financial sanctions regime put in place since 2010 by Western powers, AFP reported.  Officials have in recent months regularly used the rising exports to portray as ineffective the sanctions, which will be further tightened in July when Iran's crucial oil sector is targeted.  Western economic experts in Tehran say the rise of Iranian exports is mainly due to soaring global oil prices.

Iran's oil production, now about 3.5 million barrels per day according to OPEC, has declined steadily since 2008, while sanctions have significantly slowed the Islamic state's efforts to develop its energy sector and produce and export its gas, they told AFP on condition of anonymity.  Iran holds the second largest gas reserves worldwide.

Talking to reporters after the talks, Mohammadizadeh described the talks as very desirable and useful.  Referring to the resolve of the two countries' officials to expand bilateral ties in all the fields, he also hoped that the volume of commercial exchanges will exceed $50 billion this year. He put the value of exchanges last year at $45 billion.

Stating that Iran and China have common stances vis-à-vis international issues, he noted that during the talks, the two sides emphasized their official stances regarding the countries' integral territories, peaceful solving of the issues, avoiding using force and opposing unilateralism.

Iran-China ties are developing in all the fields, he said.

Die Einteilung der Importwaren in zugelassene, bedingt zugelassene und verbotene Waren wird von den iranischen Behörden wieder angewendet. Zugelassene Waren können zum staatlichen Devisenkurs eingeführt werden, während bedingt zugelassene Waren (ca 180 'Luxuswaren')  nur mit dem teureren Basarkurs eingeführt werden können. Bisher stehen außerdem ca. 600 Produkte auf einer Liste von Waren, die vorerst nicht eingeführt werden dürfen.  Informationen zu den 'verbotenen' Produkten liegen noch nicht vor, während folgende Waren als Luxuswaren bezeichnet werden:

Kosmetika und Seifen,

Backwaren, Schokolade, Kakaomasse, Getränke, Wasser, Kaugummi,

Glühbirnen und Lampen,

Gas- und Flüssigkeitszähler, Lichtschalter

Kleidung,  Reissverschlüsse, Knöpfe, Schirme, Perücken,

Handycraft, Musikinstrumente, Felle,

Möbel, Matratzen, Gläser, Videospiele, Koffer, Boote,  etc.

Gegen den Iran hat die Europäische Union ihre Sanktionen  verschärft. Weitere 17 Verantwortliche wurden mit Einreiseverboten und Kontosperren belegt, teilte der EU-Ministerrat mit. Damit erhöht sich die Liste der sanktionierten Personen auf 78. Der Export von Software zum Abhören von Telefon- und Internetkommunikation in den Iran wird verboten. Zudem einigten sich die EU-Außenminister auf die genauen Durchführungsbestimmungen des im Januar beschlossenen Öl-Embargos gegen den Iran, das am morgigen Samstag in Kraft tritt. Neben einem Öl-Embargo hat die EU Sanktionen gegen die iranische Zentralbank und ein Verbot des Handels mit petrochemischen Produkten beschlossen. Auch diese Sanktionen treten am morgigen Samstag in Kraft.