Enemies Target Iran’s Economy to Weaken the Country

TEHRAN (Iran News) Mohammadreza Bahraman, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and Head of the House of Mines of Iran, made the remarks during a specialized meeting with judges and judicial officials involved in the mining sector of Khuzestan Province. The meeting was hosted by the Ahvaz Chamber of Commerce.

Bahraman said Iran’s enemies are seeking to weaken the country by targeting its economy, adding that under such circumstances, safeguarding capital and creating a secure environment for economic activity are unavoidable necessities. “Capital either disappears or leaves the country in an insecure environment,” he warned.

Referring to the decisive role of the judiciary in creating economic security, he said that if the impact of various institutions on national development were assessed, the judiciary would play a distinctive and determining role, as facilitating decision-making and reducing the effects of domestic and foreign sanctions depend on judicial security.

Criticizing what he described as a criminalizing approach in some supervisory processes, Bahraman said one of the country’s serious challenges today is managers’ fear of making decisions. “When oversight moves toward criminalization, managers avoid signing necessary decisions, leading to prolonged uncertainty in mining cases,” he said.

He emphasized that development cannot be realized without the judiciary’s active role and legal support, noting that such support is what attracts and protects investment.

Bahraman also pointed to global developments in the mining sector and growing competition among countries over strategic resources, saying that the mining-based economy has replaced the oil-based economy. “The future of countries’ development depends on access to and exploitation of mineral resources,” he said, adding that Iran has unique capacities that have yet to be fully utilized.

Referring to what he called a “mining revolution,” Bahraman said the exploitation of rare and critical elements could generate employment, increase foreign currency revenues, and improve livelihoods.

He further stressed the need to return mining royalties to the regions where extraction takes place, noting that under the law, part of mining revenues must be spent on infrastructure development and the welfare of local communities. Failure to implement this, he warned, could lead to social dissatisfaction and legal disputes. Proper enforcement of the law and the return of royalties, he added, would help reduce local conflicts and judicial costs.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants underscored the importance of increasing miners’ familiarity with relevant laws and regulations. Bahraman expressed hope that through proper implementation of laws, judicial support, and protection of public resources, the country’s mineral capacities would be transformed into sustainable public wealth.

Shahla Amouri, head of the Ahvaz Chamber of Commerce, also highlighted the private sector’s significant capacity to create jobs and boost economic growth in Khuzestan, saying that realizing this potential requires reforming legal procedures and strengthening judicial support for economic actors.

Speaking at the same meeting, Amouri said the judiciary is one of the institutions trusted by economic activists, and that enhancing interaction and mutual trust between the judicial system and the private sector could play an important role in reducing unemployment and social problems.

She noted Khuzestan’s high unemployment rate, saying the province ranks at the top nationally and that the continuation of this situation has exacerbated social harms such as divorce and addiction. “The private sector, relying solely on its own capital and without dependence on government resources, has the ability to create sustainable employment,” she said.

Referring to national assessments of investment security, Amouri said official reports indicate that Khuzestan faces challenges in investment security indicators, but that these could be turned into an opportunity to restore investment and rebuild trust through procedural reforms, judicial support, and inter-agency cooperation.

She also pointed to Khuzestan’s strategic role in the national economy, noting that despite the province’s oil, gas, and infrastructure resources being exploited at the national level, its trade balance remains negative due to large imports of raw materials and essential goods, reflecting a lack of a supportive, development-oriented approach.

Amouri highlighted a major private-sector investment project in the Shadegan area, saying a project valued at more than 420 trillion rials in recreational, healthcare, tourism, accommodation, and industrial sectors could significantly improve local livelihoods and enable sustainable use of the internationally registered Shadegan Wetland. ” Iran’s Economy ”

She stressed the need to facilitate licensing procedures and provide judicial and executive support for the project, saying backing such initiatives could serve as an effective model for balanced development and reducing deprivation in less-developed areas.

Addressing challenges faced by mining operators, Amouri said unfounded complaints and certain irregular actions by executive bodies—particularly in the mining sector—have placed additional pressure on operators and, in some cases, led to unfair rulings. ” Iran’s Economy ”

She also criticized the non-implementation of certain legal provisions, including Article 56 of the bylaw on the temporary suspension of mines in circumstances beyond operators’ control, saying such practices have weakened private-sector activity.

Amouri further pointed to shortcomings in the performance of the investment “single window,” saying disruptions in inquiry processes have prolonged licensing procedures and constitute a major obstacle for investors.

In closing, she emphasized the need to calculate mining royalties based on actual extraction levels and called for effective judicial support for the private sector to remove obstacles to the development of mining and downstream industries in Khuzestan.