PARIS/HAMBURG  - Iranian state-owned animal feed importer SLAL has issued an international tender to purchase up to 200,000 tonnes of animal feed barley, European traders said on Tuesday.

Offers must be submitted on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

The grain was sought for shipment in March/April.

SLAL held international tenders to buy 300,000 tonnes of feed barley, 300,000 tonnes of corn and 300,000 tonnes of soymeal last week but no purchases were believed to have been made, traders said on Jan. 16.

Sanctions on Iran are making trade finance difficult and participation in the country's recent international purchase tenders was thin, they said.

Food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from sanctions Washington reimposed in 2018 over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

The U.S. measures have deterred many foreign banks from undertaking Iranian business, including food and agricultural deals. Many smaller banks that had dealt with Iran under previous sanctions have also stopped dealings this time.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Michael Hogan; Editing by Dale Hudson) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))