In January 2016, after a partial lifting of international sanctions, Iran wanted to diversify its sources of income beyond oil. For this, the country has opened $ 29 billion of mining projects to foreign investors. The aim was to modernize its mining industry, which was impossible during the ten years of international sanctions. Mines in Iran lack equipment and machinery, which makes the work of miners very dangerous. Especially since they are exposed to deadly gases,which can be harmful to their health Iran has a strong mining potential, with more than 3,000 active mines, most of them private, although the sector generates only 1% of GDP. Its reserves are estimated at 43 billion tons of 68 minerals, including coal, copper, gold and iron.
In 2017, Iran ranked 32nd largest exporter of coal (0.02%). Iran produces only 1.1 million tonnes of coal a year and consumes about 2.5 tonnes while it has 1.15 billion tonnes of proven reserves. The country therefore wants to exploit the potential of this industry to stimulate the creation of jobs, wealth and energy.
But on May 8, 2018, Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, reinstating US sanctions against Iran that prevent non-US people from engaging in a wide range of business in Iran. This concerns in particular the mining sector.
According to some analysts, these sanctions will have little impact on investments. For others, it is likely that large European companies, facing the risk of denial of access to the US market, withdraw from the Iranian market. In any case, it may be very difficult for Iran to attract the expected foreign investment volumes. The modernization project of the mining industry would therefore be compromised because the country could not benefit from technology transfers due to foreign investment.
This perspective would play to the advantage of the United States. After withdrawing from the Paris agreement, Donald Trump announced several measures to support the coal industry. In 2017, the country exported 8.9% of global coal and this figure is expected to increase for the year 2018. Even though investments are moving from fossil fuels to renewable energies around the world, the 2017 outlook of the International Atomic Energy Agency energy are forecasting stagnation in coal consumption over the next three years.

One of Tazareh mine's workers (Semnan province-Iran) is changing his clothes in his work day's beginning. Designing of this mine's changing room belongs to WWII era by Germans.

The driver of transportation sector in the Jowzchal mine transports miners with his vehicle.

After finishing his shift, one of the miners in Jowzchal coal mine in Golestan Province, gets back to the coal camp. Because of the wild animals living in the area all the miners turn their headlights on at all times so the other workers can recognize them. Coal miners in Iran face a very difficult working condition with a low salary.

One of the Jowzchal miners is waiting for his colleagues in protest until they come back and start working again with them on mine's tunnel.(Iran's government is against Workers protest photography, specially coal miners)

Kalariz mine's guard (Semnan province-Iran) calling one of his friends

Bornaki mine's workers (Semnan province-Iran) are waiting for transportation vehicle to take them to changing room after a long hard work day.

Night-shift workers of tazare (Semnan province-Iran) are transported to changing room with transporting vehicles. tazare mine is the only mine that provides transporting vehicles for its workers.

The miners dig deep into the mountains, working in dark, narrow passageways where the risk of toxic gases and cave-ins is never far from them. A very stressful and dangerous workplace.

A coal mine worker in Kalariz mine, takes out his helmet. He works 4days a week in mine. His home is about 150 km away from this mine.

A teenager mine worker in Kalat mine (East of Golestan province-Iran)

He is 17 years old and work in mining section (extraction) of coal mine. "Going inside the mine is by our will, but coming out is god's!" he says.

Night shift miners of Kalat-e- shargh mine (East of Golestan province-Iran) because of transportation lack and problems, are taking a walk from foot a mountain to their locker rooms.

A miner of Kalat-e- shargh mine (East of Golestan province-Iran) takes a shower after a long day at work in coal mine. They don't have any lights in shower room so they use each other's headlights to take shower.

jowzchal mine's (Golestan province-Iran) driver showing a mine worker's photo that passed away in explosion accident in mine.