The US Draws The Line With Iran When It Comes To Pistachios

No wonder Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of Iran doubts Obamas intentions--now that US pressure has Israel turning away from Iranian pistachios to American pistachios instead:

The historic problem, valley growers say, has been that low-cost Iranian pistachios were imported into Israel via Turkey. That stings, because Israel is a potentially lucrative market. The county leads the world in per-capita pistachio consumption.

In theory, Israel maintains a trade embargo on Iran. In practice, valley growers say, they have repeatedly found evidence of Iranian pistachios finding their way into Israel. Since 1997, when then-Secretary of State Madeline Albright weighed in, U.S. officials have periodically pressed Israel to stop the Iranian shipments.

Earlier this year, the maneuvering culminated in Israel raising its tariff on non-U.S. pistachios to 23 percent. That tariff, plus an added weight-based duty, effectively rendered the tariff-free U.S. pistachios a better buy than the foreign competition.

Now doubt this measure will bring Iran to its senses--if not to its knees.

If only the US could be as serious about the nuclear threat of Iran as it is about the nut trade.

If only.

Technorati Tag: Iran and Pistachios and Israel.