Iran hopes to help Russia develop mining

Iran has said it wants Russian assistance and technical support to explore underground mineral resources.

"Russia has high capabilities in geological exploration and mine exploration," said Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh. "This could be a new area for cooperation between Iran and Russia," said Russian Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Sergei Donskoy.

Nematzadeh went on to say that Iran has made significant progress in the mining industry over the past few years, adding that the country has serious plans to develop mines. He said the Iranian government hopes that the basic agreements that have been signed with Russia to study Iranian fields will be implemented and work will begin as soon as possible.

"Iran still has no experience in operating underground mines," Nematzadeh said. "Thus, we are ready to use Russia's experience in this area." Donskoy, in turn, expressed Russia's readiness to expand cooperation with Iran in the mining industry.

Iran is believed to hold more than 7 percent of the world's total mineral reserves. The country ranks 10th in terms of various minerals. The main operating mines are located in the northeastern province of Khorasan. There are large deposits in the country that are still poorly explored. They contain zinc, copper, iron, uranium and lead.

Iran has signed several basic agreements to explore the Zarshouran gold mine in Western Azarbaijan, the Angooran lead and zinc mines, and the iron ore mine in Khorasan province.