The International Monetary Fund has indicated that despite international sanctions, Iran's imports increased dramatically during 2007.

Iran imported $18 billion worth of goods in 2002 but the value of its imports rose to $40 billion in 2007.

While the permanent members of the UN Security Council discuss further sanctions against Iran the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that Iran has more than doubled its imports in the past five years.

During 2007, Chinese exports to Iran exceeded those of all EU countries combined.

Major exporters of goods to Iran are China, the EU, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Russia and India. After Germany, major west European countries exporting to Iran are Switzerland, France, Italy and England.

MMM/JC/GM