Iran goes nuts after EU imposes pistachio ban

11 September 1997

Iran goes nuts after EU imposes pistachio ban

Mohammed Hassan Shams of the Dried Nuts Association in Tehran accused the European Union (EU) of capitulating to US pressure when it banned imports of Iranian pistachios.

The EU announced the ban because it feared they were contaminated with a potentially carcinogenic substance. Pistachios are second only to carpets in non-oil exports.