Iran flies tons of food aids to Qatar amid shortage fears

An IranAir Boeing 747SP aircraft is pictured before leaving Tehran’s Mehrabad airport September 19, 2011. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File photo

Iran has sent four cargo planes of food to Qatar and plans to provide 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetable every day, Iranian officials said, amid concerns of shortages after Qatar’s biggest suppliers severed ties with the import-dependent country, Reuters reported.

Qatar has been in talks with Iran and Turkey to secure food and water supplies after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut links, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Qatar says the allegations are based on lies, Reuters added.

“Following the sanctions … on Qatar, IranAir has so far transported food and vegetables to this country by four flights,” Shahrokh Noushabadi, head of public relations at Iran’s national airline, was quoted as saying by Fars news agency, it also indicated.

The head of the industries, business and trade organization in the Fars province was also quoted by the Tasnim news agency as saying on Sunday the first planes carrying food to Qatar had flown from the southern city of Shiraz, Reuters reported as well.

“Every day we will export 100 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Qatar,” Ali Hemmati said.

The head of Iran’s livestock exporters said on Sunday that they had exported 66 tonnes of meat to Qatar in the last two days, according to Reuters.

“We will also be sending 90 tonnes of meat in the coming week,” Fars quoted Mansour Pourian as saying, Reuters reported.

Qatar was importing 80 percent of its food requirements from bigger Gulf Arab neighbors before they cut ties with the nation of 2.5 million people last week, Reuters added.

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