BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 2. The number of small-scale mines revived and developed in Iran rose by 31 units, or 18 percent, in the first four months of the current Iranian year (from March 21 through July 21, 2025) compared to the same period last year (from March 20 through July 20, 2024).
Data obtained by Trend from the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) indicates that 196 small mines resumed or expanded operations, up from 165 in the corresponding period last year.
Over the entire previous Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025), 594 mines were revived or developed, most of them through private sector efforts.
To note, Iran holds the world’s 5th-largest natural resource reserves, estimated at $27.5 trillion. Of this, at least $1.4 trillion is linked to mining minerals. If fully processed into industrial products, the value could rise to $10 trillion.
In the past year, more than $2.36 billion was invested in the revival of mining projects across the country.
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