TEHRAN (Tasnim) – India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry has said Iran is expected to resume imports of the South Asian country’s rice in the near future.
"Government of Iran may soon issue the notification about the resumption of issuance of permits for import of rice,” the ministry said in a statement. 
It came after a 20-member strong trade delegation visited Iran on January 28-30 to promote India's exports of rice since Iran is one of the largest importers of the country's rice.
"The deliberations helped to dispel the negative publicity which appeared in some part of Iran media causing doubts about the health and safety of rice from India,” the ministry added.
Iran has been one of the largest importers of Indian basmati rice in recent years. But in 2015-16, basmati rice exports from India to Iran almost halved to $571 million from $1.1 billion in the previous financial year.
In the first half of this fiscal year, basmati rice exports from India to Iran amounted to $356 million.
Both India and Pakistan have claimed geographical indication on aromatic long-grained basmati rice, saying the variety is unique to the respective countries. Uruguay is another rice exporter to Iran.