In an unexpected turn of events, Iraqi officials have blocked the entry of truckloads of Iranian watermelon, melon, tomato and potato at the border, inflicting a huge loss on Iranian exporters.

Speaking to Hamid Hosseini, a member of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, Financial Tribune attempted to shed light on the August 7 incident. Hosseini explained that the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture suddenly banned the import of these five items without prior notice to boost Iraqs domestic production.

The Iraqis say that, since they are in harvest season, the import of these agro products is not beneficial for their country.

To solve the issue, Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce authorities entered into negotiations with Iraqi authorities, which resulted in the bans removal on Friday by which time loads of Iranian watermelon, melon, tomato and potato had gone bad at Mehran border terminal in Ilam Province before reaching the Iraqi market.

Hosseini noted that in the absence of coordination with the central Iraqi government, each of the countrys governorates on their own changes the rules anytime they want, causing much instability and losses and also making Iranian exporters question the future viability of trade relations.