Iran's Carpet Industry Seeks Revival After Sanctions Lift

Following Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers, the Iranian carpet industry is in a frenzy, hoping that the lifting of the first set of international sanctions in the coming months will revive exports of this product. The Associated Press reports from Tehran, quoting Zhila Rasam Arabzadeh, an exporter of Iranian carpets: "Handwoven carpets are Iran's ambassador abroad, and I am happy that this ambassador will soon resume its work in the United States. The handwoven carpet serves as Iran's flag, and I hope our flag will soon be raised." According to the historic agreement on July 14 between Iran and six world powers, part of the international sanctions against the country will be lifted in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear activities. Therefore, the import of Iranian carpets, which has been halted in the U.S. since 2010, will resume. Iranian handwoven carpets were one of the non-oil export items that suffered the most from recent sanctions. The U.S. accounted for about 20% of the market for Iranian carpets abroad. Hamid Kargar, director of the National Carpet Center of Iran, states that Iranian weavers are already producing in hopes of resuming exports to the U.S. He adds, "Industry stakeholders are already producing carpets suitable for the tastes of the American market, receiving orders, and negotiating with customers. Since 2010 and the ban on carpet exports to the U.S., we have lost one-fifth of our market, and our competitors have taken our place. Nevertheless, we believe that the American market will welcome the re-entry of Iranian carpets due to their unique patterns and colors." The Associated Press adds that the volume of Iranian carpet exports last year was about $330 million. Typically, two-thirds of the carpets woven in Iran are exported, amounting to about five million square meters annually. Iran was once the largest exporter of carpets in the world, but international sanctions and competitors from Pakistan, India, and China, who copy traditional Iranian carpets, have weakened Iran's carpet industry. Zhila Arabzadeh, an Iranian carpet exporter, says she is preparing for orders from American customers. She adds, "Americans and Canadians prefer bright colors, but older generations favor darker colors. We try to consider the tastes of American customers." The price of a handwoven Iranian carpet starts from several thousand dollars and can reach several million dollars depending on its quality and size, often used for decorating palaces and luxurious buildings. In 2000, Iran sent a large carpet to the Sultan of Oman, which was priced at over five million dollars. In 2006, Iran also produced the largest carpet in the world for Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which was priced at 8.5 million dollars. Meanwhile, Iran is also looking to revive pistachio exports, another popular non-oil product of the country. However, in recent decades, the U.S. has become one of the pistachio producers, and Iranian pistachio exports now face a 300% customs tariff. According to Mohsen Jalalpour, head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, the aim of this tariff is to protect American domestic products. Nevertheless, he is confident that Iranian pistachios have a special superiority over similar products. He adds, "Americans prefer the taste of Iranian pistachios over those produced in their country."