IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (1 June)

In the second dekad of May, floods caused by torrential rains were reported to have killed at least 11 people in north- western Iran. The floods, in a rural area of East Azerbaijan province, also injured 30 people and caused damage to farmland and cattle.

A bumper wheat crop of about 10.5 million tonnes is in prospect due to increased rains and snow this year. At this level production is slightly above the average for the previous five years. Official reports have indicated that the country's wheat import requirements for the current marketing year (April/March), amounting to 3 million tonnes, have already been bought and some of this have entered the country.