mo4ch:>Gold rush: Iran turns to precious metals as US sanctions bite | Mo4ch News

Tehran wants to revitalize gold and copper mines, media reported citing Iran Minerals Production and Supply Company. The country is experiencing a surge in gold mining activity in the wake of the second rollout of US sanctions.The subsidiary of state-owned Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with an industry group and a private company on developing of artisanal mines, including six small-scale gold mines.Read more The mines will be set up all across the county, particularly in the central Isfahan province, the eastern South Khorasan province, East and the West Azerbaijan provinces.Besides boosting mineral production and legalizing some illegal mines, the government’s program is aimed at “increasing employment, creating added value for local communities, and ultimately achieving the goals of a resilient economy.”According to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Iran hos…