Citrus Fruit Conspiracy

A theory proposed by an Iranian official to explain how “Israeli” citrus fruit were (illegally) imported into Iran.

“When Iranian shoppers discovered recently that they were apparently being offered Israeli pomelos for sale, a storm of protest swept the Islamic Republic,” Haaretz reported.

The media showcased the contraband citrus, the warehouses where it was stored were shut down, and the authorities pledged to “bring to justice” the miscreants involved. A senior Iranian politician even accused the opposition of a “citrus fruit conspiracy.”

Attributing the allegations of sedition to “the infamy of dealing with Israel,” the BBC reported on a “twist” in the story:

It has now been revealed the fruit, a type of orange-grapefruit hybrid marketed as Jaffa Sweetie, were not Israeli in the first place.

The Sweeties were brought to Iran from China, where faking the origin of goods is a common practice.

According to Haaretz:

Iranians have not seen Israeli fruit since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when trade was cut off between the two countries. Just two years earlier, the Iranians were enjoying no less than 40 tons a year of Zionist oranges.