Persian Carpets Roll into US Market Again: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The first batch of carpets imported from Iran to US following the recent termination of anti-Tehran sanctions arrived in Los Angeles International Airport Friday, a report said.
The first shipment of the Persian rugs were picked up at the Los Angeles airport on Friday by employees of Alex Helmi, owner of Damoka, a Persian rug store in Westwood, Los Angeles Times reported.
The batch included 40 handmade rugs, some antique and some modern, valued at about $500,000.
"Today is a very special day," Helmi said, adding, "It's a shame to not let this art come to the United States. Art never has borders."
Helmi has been selling Persian rugs for decades, but this marked the first time he was getting merchandise directly from Iran since the US imposed a network of unfair sanctions on the country in 2010.
Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 finalized a comprehensive deal on Tehran's energy nuclear program and implemented it on January 16. With the implementation of the agreement, all nuclear-related anti-Iran sanctions were terminated.