Japan International prices of rice are on rise, with Thai rice trading at highest in about three years amid growing demand from Iran. Export prices of grade-A Thai white rice came to $492 a ton in mid-June, up 10% from a month earlier and the highest since August 2014. A big buyer is Iran, which has returned to the international markets after its landmark nuclear deal with six world powers. The Iranian government and corporate buyers in the country got their hands on 40,000 tons to 50,000 tons of jasmine rice and grade-B white rice recently. Thailand rice exporters are eagerly securing supplies for shipment to Iran. Appreciation in the Thai baht is lifting international prices as well.