"} 5f:{"position":5,"content":"

Cargill, Bunge and Olam all declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

"} 60:{"position":6,"content":"

U.S. sanctions took full effect on Nov. 5 after a winding-down period, although Washington has issued temporary waivers for some of its allies which depend on imported Iranian oil.

"} 61:{"position":7,"content":"

CLOSING DOWN CHANNELS

"} 62:{"position":8,"content":"

Iran, which relies heavily on imported food staples, has years of experience working around U.S and other Western sanctions, which were progressively tightened between 2012 and 2015 until Iran reached a deal over its nuclear program. Many sanctions were lifted in 2016 after the pact.

"} 63:{"position":9,"content":"

Under the earlier round of sanctions, Iran had turned to a dwindling number of foreign banks that continued to act as a conduit for payments to keep food and other trade flowing.

"} 64:{"position":10,"content":"

But this time round, many of those foreign banking channels are closing down. Three Iranian officials told Reuters that banking issues were to blame for halting food and other trade.

"} 65:{"position":11,"content":"

An official with Iranian Industry, Mines and Trade Industry said only a "handful of small European banks" with no or little interaction with the United States were still doing business with Iran, and they were only involved in small-scale purchases.

"} 66:{"position":12,"content":"

"We are in talks with Europeans to expand this network of banks and financial institutions," the ministry official said.

"} 67:{"position":13,"content":"

"But right now, many companies including Cargill and Bunge have informed us about (banking) difficulties that will force them to stop their dealings with Iran," he said.

"} 68:{"position":14,"content":"

Swiss lender Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP), one of those banks that had been involved in humanitarian-related dealings in the past, said in May it was suspending al

Global traders halt new Iran food deals as U.S. sanctions bite