Tehran: Iran's Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri-Ghezeljeh says the country's food security remained intact throughout recent conflicts imposed by the US and the Israeli regime, despite maritime restrictions, sanctions, and severe drought. Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Nouri-Ghezeljeh said food supplies were not disrupted for even an hour during the recent wars, with domestic production and diversified trade routes helping maintain market stability.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Nouri-Ghezeljeh emphasized that around 85 percent of Iran's food production is supplied domestically, while measures have been taken to secure the remaining imports. The minister also highlighted growth in agricultural output, including a 19 percent rise in poultry production and increased egg and red meat production.
Crop production in greenhouses increased by 18 percent, greenhouse acreage grew by 16 percent, and seedling production rose by 62 percent, as per Nouri-Ghezeljeh. Wheat deliveries also reached 7.7 million tons during the past two challenging agricultural years, despite severe drought conditions.
During the latest conflict, three million metric tons of agricultural inputs were unloaded through northern ports. Iran strengthened trade links with neighboring countries, and the government activated a crisis-management headquarters shortly after acts of aggression began to prevent disruptions to food supplies.
Nouri-Ghezeljeh stated that Iran did not need to draw on its strategic food reserves during the war, while production and stockpiles continued to increase. He also attributed the country's food resilience primarily to domestic farmers, producers, and livestock breeders, crediting Iran's geographic diversity, multiple land borders, access to different waterways, and diversified trade channels for providing alternatives to maritime restrictions.