TEHRAN- Iran imports $185 million worth of goods from the U.S. in the first nine months of 2015, a 35 percent rise compared to the same period of time in the previous year,  according to the latest report released by the U.S. Commerce Department.  

The report says that the U.S. exported over $136.4 million worth of products to Iran during January-September 2014, the Tasnim News Agency reported on Friday.

Iran’s rank among the U.S.’s export destinations jumped to 120th in the first nine months of 2015 from 136th in the same period of time in 2014.

The U.S. had no imports from Iran during the nine-month period both in 2015 and 2014.

Also, the U.S.’s exports to Iran rose to $14.4 million in September 2015, with 26 percent growth from $11.4 million in September 2014.

The Iran-U.S. trade totaled $182.1 million in 2014, with one hundred percent of the sum related to the U.S.’s exports to Iran.    

The value of trade between Iran and the U.S. dropped 42 percent in 2014 from 2013.  

On October 31, Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mohammadreza Ne’matzadeh said the ministry’s strategy is to ban imports of consumer goods from the U.S.  

The ministry’s strategy is to promote domestic production and to curb imports of foreign goods, especially from the U.S, he added. 

He stressed the need to take advantage of domestic production capacity, saying that the culture of using foreign-made goods should be changed.  

This will lead to the creation of jobs and income for the youth, the minister added.  

MA/