Iran, world’s 28th largest exporter in 2012: WTO

TEHRAN,May 25(MNA) - Iran was the 28th largest exporter in the world in 2012 despite economic sanctions against the country, according to a new report by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The value of Iran’s exports was $96 billion in 2012, IRNA cited the WTO report on Saturday. The total global exports stood at $18.3 trillion in 2012, showing just 0.2 percent rise compared to 2011. Chin was the leading country with exporting $2.049 trillion worth of goods, accounting for 11.2 percent of the world’s total exports. The U.S. and Germany ranked second and third, with exporting $1.547 trillion and $1.407 trillion worth of products, respectively. Iran had ranked the 23rd largest exporter in the world in 2011. Iran’s exports had increased more than 30 percent in 2011, compared to 2010, despite the economic bans imposed by the U.S. and its allies against the Islamic Republic, the last year’s WTO report stated. At the beginning of 2012, the United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors. The U.S.-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran rejects the allegation, saying that as a committed signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.