The troubling state of Iranian saffron highlights a larger issue affecting other important exports such as pistachios and carpets. Statements from the Secretary of Iran’s National Saffron Council reveal that recent policies by the Iranian regime have led to severe consequences, causing poverty and greatly reducing domestic production.
Farshid Manouchehri, told the state-run ILNA News Agency on April 10, “The amount of saffron consumed domestically is directly influenced by both the income levels of the population and the price of saffron. When the price per kilogram of saffron reaches 70 to 80 million tomans, domestic consumption sees a notable decline due to the lack of increase in people’s incomes. Previously, as much as 25% of the country’s saffron made its way to the domestic market, but achieving such levels today seems like an unrealistic aspiration.”
Manouchehri pointed out that foreign competitors are purchasing Iranian saffron and selling it under their own brand names, reminiscent of previous incidents involving pistachios and carpets.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Manouchehri disclosed that Iran exported approximately 217 tons and 406 kilograms of saffron in 2023, with major export destinations including the UAE, China, Spain, Afghanistan, and Qatar—countries that also happen to be competitors in the saffron trade.
According to Manouchehri, countries such as Afghanistan are purchasing Iranian saffron and selling it as their own product, often at higher prices. He pointed out that Afghanistan bought 40 tons of saffron from Iran last year, packaging and selling it in their markets. Similarly, Spain repackages Iranian saffron and distributes it across Europe, Arab countries, and even the United States, leading many consumers to overlook Iran as the primary saffron producer.
Watch and judge why the #Iranian regime’s MPs have become alarmists about an #EconomicCrisis pic.twitter.com/xVoIWuhgGy
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 25, 2023
Manouchehri raised concerns about Iran’s traditional saffron cultivation and harvesting methods, which have remained unchanged for a century. He warned that countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, now entering the saffron market, could outpace Iran due to factors like cheaper labor, better agricultural resources, and more suitable land and water conditions. He emphasized the urgent need for innovation to prevent Iran from losing its competitive edge.
Notably, Manouchehri highlighted a significant decrease in domestic saffron consumption due to low household incomes, alongside a decline in exports to China. He criticized Iranian authorities for failing to adequately promote the branding of Iranian saffron, exacerbating the market challenges faced by this prized commodity.
This revelation comes amid a broader decline in exports of saffron, carpets, and particularly pistachios—key non-oil export products of Iran. Despite numerous pledges made by the Iranian regime’s Ebrahim Rais to boost the country’s exports amidst international sanctions, the struggles of the saffron industry underscore ongoing challenges within Iran’s export sector.
