Iran raises non-oil exports to counter sanctions

Iran has raised its non-oil exports by 27 percent to counter the economic challenge posed by UN and US sanctions targeting the country vital energy sector, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) reported Monday.

Iran’s non-oil exports, including gas condensates, reached this year about14 million tons worth $5,795 million, an increase in value of about 27percent from 2009, according to IRINN.

China and Iraq top export destinations for made-in Iran products, followed by UAE, India and Afghanistan.

Iran is also seeking more business partners and access to new markets in other parts of the world after Tehran lost much of its business share in profitable Western markets.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this year paid visits to Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Uganda as the Middle Eastern nation tries to build alliances against stronger U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program.

Iranian officials accused Germany, Britain and the UAE on Monday of refusing to refuel Iranian passenger planes due to unilateral U.S. sanctions imposed over its nuclear program.

"Since last week, our planes have been refused fuel at airports in Britain, Germany and UAE because of the sanctions imposed by America," Mehdi Aliyari, Secretary of the Iranian Airlines Union, told Iran's ISNA news agency.

If confirmed, the new measures will be evidence of a determined intention to make these sanctions really bite.

An airport company in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi denied that any such measure was in place. "We have contracts with Iranian passenger flights and continue to allow refueling," said a spokeswoman for Abu Dhabi Airports Co (ADAC).

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law far-reaching sanctions on Iran that aim to squeeze the Islamic Republic's fuel imports and deepen its international isolation.

The unilateral U.S. action and other measures planned by the European Union go well beyond a fourth round of U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran approved on June 9.

Iran is the world's fifth-largest oil producer, but imports various oil products for lack of sufficient refining capacity.

Unlike the U.S. measures, the U.N. sanctions stop short of targeting Iranian imports of refined products.

Western powers believe Iran is trying to build bombs under cover of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran says the program is only for electricity generation and medical purposes.

Since last week, our planes have been refused fuel at airports in Britain, Germany and UAE because of the sanctions imposed by America

Mehdi Aliyari, Secretary of the Iranian Airlines Union