Iran has agreed to animal health certification protocols giving Australian exporters the green light to start shipping sheep, cattle and goats off to that country.
It's the first inroad to Iran in four decades since trade was banned following the 1970s revolution.
But animal activists have labelled the trade resumption as a step back for animal welfare and called for the expansion of the chilled-meat trade.
Iran has agreed to animal health certification protocols giving Australian exporters the green light to start shipping sheep, cattle and goats off to that country.
It's the first inroad to Iran in four decades since trade was banned following the 1970s revolution.
No timeline has been given for the resumption of exports but Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says it will happen "as soon as possible".
"The next step will happen very quickly because Iranian importers ... want to get their hands on Australian stock," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
Animal activists labelled the trade resumption as a step back for animal welfare and called for the expansion of the chilled-meat trade.
"The best welfare outcome for Australian animals is for them to be slaughtered here to Australian standards," the RSPCA said in a statement.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie was appalled by the live-trade expansion into "particularly notorious" countries.
"It's horrifying," he told reporters in Canberra.
Iran was Australia's biggest market for sheep before the boycott, and the trade resumption will open up a potentially $20 million market.
It's understood the deal will fall within the guidelines of Australian and UN and trade sanctions that limit deals with Iranian financial services, listed entities and specific persons.
Those sanctions do not prohibit the provision of food to Iran.
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