US senators call for allowing wheat exports to Iran
WASHINGTON, March 2 (AFP) - A group of US senators is calling for lifting
restrictions on exports of wheat and other agricultural products to Iran.
Byron Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, and Republicans Larry Craig
of Idaho and Richard Lugar of Indiana, met Monday with national security
adviser Sandy Berger to discuss the matter, spokesmen for the lawmakers
said.
"Farmers in Idaho and across the nation should not be punished
for the actions of foreign governments," Craig argued, adding that
"food and agricultural trade should not be used as weapons in battles
of foreign policy."
"Placing sanctions on grain sales on countries like Iran is simply
shooting ourselves in the foot," Dorgan said in a statement.
Iran and the United States broke off diplomatic relations on April 7,
1980, after Iranian hard-liners held 52 US embassy staff hostage for 444
days.
Washington has since maintained tough economic sanctions on Tehran.
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