Iranian customs says imports into the country were down sharply last month compared to the same period in 2012.
According to the report, imports fell from $3.3 billion in April of 2012 to $1.3 billion in April of 2013.
Meanwhile, the export of petroleum products has also dropped by $312 million in the first month of spring compared to last year.
The UAE, China, India, Turkey and Switzerland are the top exporters of goods to Iran.
The U.S. and EU sanctions have restricted Iran’s ability to trade its petroleum exports, and sanctions on its financial sector have also created obstacles for all of Iran’s international trade activities.