Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iran's industry minister, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, has called on the international companies to help the country with mineral exploration.
"The Islamic republic of Iran has not posed any restrictions against the activity of foreign companies in the field of mineral exploration," IRNA news agency quoted Iranian minister of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh as saying.
Nematzadeh added that the country welcomes foreign companies' involvement in the exploration of minerals.
The involvement of domestic and international companies in the mineral exploration will lead to business prosperity, he said.
Saying that mineral reserves are not recoverable, he added that minerals exploration is of high importance for the country.
Following the removal of international sanctions against Iran, the country's rich deposits of zinc, copper along with other minerals have drawn the attention of international investors.
Iran's proven mineral reserves stand at 37 billion tons. The country is ranked among the 15 major mineral-rich countries of the world and exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan. However, the recent slump in the commodities prices has caused decline in its exports.
The important mines of Iran include coal, metallic minerals, sand and gravel, chemical minerals and salt. Iran has the world's largest zinc and second largest copper deposits, and ranks ninth for its iron reserves.