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By Trend

Iran has been experiencing a shortage of fresh meat lately, one of the reasons being the smuggling of livestock between Iran and the neighboring countries.

In recent months, food prices in the country have skyrocketed, with meat prices increasing fourfold and monthly inflation in the sector reaching double digits.

Recently an amount of imported meat to Iran got stuck at the country's customs due to funds transfer problem from the importers.

VP of the Agriculture Committee of Iran's Chamber of Commerce Farhad Aqahi announced that the imported meat is considered an abandoned commodity by the Hormozgan Governorate and has entered the auctioning process.

"Unfortunately, due to the foreign currency transferring issue, the Hormozgan Governorate now considers this meat import an abandoned commodity that is to be auctioned," he said.

“According to the rules of international trade, these goods are in the possession of the foreign party until the transfer of funds to the account of the seller is final,” he added.

Aside from that, Iran continues to look for ways to tackle illegal livestock smuggling.

Iranian Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati estimates that the livestock trafficking figures amount to around 2 million.

"Currently there are 2 million livestock being trafficked to other countries. This is national capital and this capital is taken to countries in the Persian Gulf from the west, northwest and south of the country,” he had said.

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