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Iraqis Divided Over Iranian Car Ban

The recent ban on Iranian car imports is expected to increase the price of automobiles in Iraq, writes Omar al-Shaher.
An aerial view shows Baghdad's Khilani Square in central Baghdad May 23, 2010.    REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: CITYSCAPE)
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Iraq’s decision to halt the import of Iranian-made cars has resulted in confusion in the car market, which for the past nine years has relied on the affordable, yet subpar, Iranian brands. The state-owned corporation for car imports stated that it had banned the import of Iran-made Saiba and Samand cars at the beginning of the year. The future tendency will be toward Japanese and Korean cars such as Toyota and Hyundai, in a bid to implement higher standards on the roads.

Economic ties between Iraq and Iran are unbreakable. Commercial exchange between the neighboring countries is said to have reached $10 billion during 2012. Both countries are planning to establish a free zone to lessen the pressure of international sanctions imposed on Iran.

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