The Iranian government banned the import of 1,339 commodities categorized as “non-essential goods with domestic equivalents” as of June 20.
The announcement was misinterpreted when it spread beyond borders and international shipping lines and transportation companies ordered their offices and representatives to abstain from accepting freight loaded with such commodities for transit via Iran, based on the misconception that the entry of these goods was banned into the country, IRNA reported.
The above-mentioned list bans the import of cars, refrigerators and freezers, automatic folding doors of elevators, farm tractors, milk powder, ambulances, range hoods, stoves, ovens, tea- and coffee-makers, cameras, musical instruments and auto parts, among others, Financial Tribune reported.
Prior to unveiling the list, Deputy Industries Minister Mojtaba Khosrotaj said that on the order of the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei regarding the need to support domestically-made products, the government was going to ban or restrict the import of certain commodities.
“Imports of some goods will be restricted by increasing customs duties while the import of some other goods will be banned altogether,” Khosrotaj, who doubles as chairman of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, has been quoted as saying.
The move to ban import is mainly aimed at saving the limited foreign currency resources.