Kenya and Iran have agreed to form a joint committee to resolve trade disputes and pave the way for lifting the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran.

The two sides announced the move during the 7th Session of the Kenya–Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi, co-chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Iran’s Minister of Agricultural Jihad, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development, the committee will work to remove all trade obstacles within 60 days.

The ban on Kenyan tea exports was imposed after a criminal malpractice involving a Kenyan company, which imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as premium Kenyan tea.

The firm has since been deregistered by the Tea Board of Kenya and is set to face prosecution.

“The joint committee will ensure the restoration of trust in Kenyan tea quality and protect the integrity of our exports,” the Ministry stated. They added that Kenya is committed to maintaining its reputation as one of the world’s leading tea producers while safeguarding trade relationships.

Iran is among the top ten buyers of Kenyan tea and remains a key market.

In 2024, the Middle Eastern nation imported 13 million kilograms valued at Sh4.26 billion. Pakistan was the largest importer, taking in 34.7 per cent of total exports worth Sh70 billion.

The Ministry says the agreement signals renewed confidence between the two countries and marks an important step toward rebuilding a trade partnership disrupted by malpractice.

The government hopes that, with safeguards in place, the Iranian market will once again be fully open to Kenyan tea, benefitting farmers, traders, and the wider economy.