US sanctions against Iran and a UAE trade freeze threaten India's $1.6 billion trade with Iran, with rice exporters facing significant challenges due to disrupted payment channels.
UAE has been a key payment channel for this trade
Aug 25, 2026
12:48 pm
What's the storyIndia's $810 million rice trade with Iran is facing a double blow, with fresh US sanctions and the UAE's freeze on trade and financial transactions with Tehran threatening to disrupt shipments and payment channels.
The UAE has been a key payment and trading route for Indian rice exporters, but its suspension of transactions with Iran could disrupt this channel.
New U.S. sanctions and UAE trade suspension may disrupt Indian exports to Iran. Rice, tea, and pharmaceutical shipments routed…
India has been among Iran's five largest trading partners, though bilateral trade has fallen by more than 90% from its 2018/19…
Rice dominates trade between the two countries, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Indias $1.25 billion in exports to Iran in…
India, the world’s biggest rice exporter, is confident its rice trade with Iran can withstand the threat of tougher US sanctions,…
Stricter US sanctions on Iran are unlikely to significantly affect Indias exports to the country, as bilateral trade is mainly…
India's rice exports decline 1.3% as the Iran war disrupts basmati shipments to Gulf markets, impacting prices.
