TEHRAN, IRAN — Iran purchased around 1 million tonnes of wheat recently, trade sources told Reuters.

The bulk of the wheat is expected to come via Russia and other Black Sea regions as well as Germany, trade sources told Reuters.

According to Reuters, Iran plans to import 3 million tonnes of wheat by spring 2020.

U.S. sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program struggles to import food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies even though those products are exempt, Reuters noted. 

Earlier this year in October, 20 ships carrying about 1 million tonnes of grain outside of Iranian ports were stranded due to renewed sanctions.

“But the U.S. measures targeting everything from oil sales to shipping and financial activities have deterred some foreign banks from doing any Iranian business, including humanitarian deals such as food shipments,” the news agency said.