Trade Remains Stronger Than Ever Between the US and Iran

By Pamela Mortimer

Reports released on Tuesday show that the U.S.-Iran trade bond is much stronger than most Americans would ever expect. Cigarettes seem to be the biggest item, with $158 million worth being sent over during the current Bush administration. According to data compiled by the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, a significant number of goods were exported to Iran totaling millions of dollars. Some of the items include corn, $68 million; soybeans, vegetable seeds, $12 million, $43 million; chemical wood pulp, soda or sulfate, $64 million; bull semen, $12.6 million medical equipment, $27 million; and vitamins, $18 million. Other items topping the trade list include brassieres, cosmetics, clothing, sculptures, musical instruments, and perfume. The states with the most trade interaction with Iran include California, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and North Carolina.

The ongoing trade between the two countries is surprising to many considering that Bush has referred to Iran as "part of an axis of evil." Despite what the government is saying, the trade continues despite sanctions imposed nearly thirty years ago. Currently, the regulations permit the sale of agricultural commodities, medicine and other select categories of goods and materials. Officials say that the exemptions are designed to help Iranian families and have nothing to do with the Iranian government.

"Our sanctions are targeted against the regime, not the people," said Adam Szubin, Director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the agency charged with enforcing the sanctions. Although the exports to Iran are supposed to be tracked through detailed shipping records, it doesn’t seem like anyone really has the full picture.

The initial purpose for the sanctions was to hamper Iran's efforts to strengthen its military, yet U.S. government records show at least $148,000 worth of "unspecified weapons and other military gear" were exported from the United States to Iran during the Bush administration.

The AP has raised a number of questions about the items exported, inquiring about the possibility of weapons as part of the inventory. Szubin said it is "unlikely exports of military gear occurred", but that "the government was looking into it." He claims some of the inventory supposedly sent to Iran could have been improperly coded through human error. Monday, the Treasury Department said it was trying to uncover an explanation.

"That's something that would obviously concern us greatly and concern the whole administration," Szubin said. "And so when you presented us with the question in the last day we have called over to our colleagues in other government agencies and you can be assured they're looking very carefully into it."