Because environmental impact assessments have never been fully realized, Iranian miners risk their lives every day they go to work.

Mining accidents are uncommon around the world, but under the Iranian dictatorship, rules and safety measures are non-existent. Iran is one of the world’s most important mineral producers, ranking 15th among 15 main mineral-rich countries in 2014, with 68 different minerals, 37 billion tons of proved deposits, and over 57 billion tons of prospective reserves worth $770 billion. Mining’s environmental consequences, as well as metallurgical processing, are known to generate substantial occupational health and safety issues, but the Iranian government is unaware of this. Because environmental impact assessments have never been fully realized, Iranian miners risk their lives every day they go to work.

There are over 5,400 operating mines in Iran

While Iranian workers have the legal right to form labor unions, there are no unions in Iran, and the regime does not respect the right to strike. Protests and strikes have been greeted with brutal crackdowns and arbitrary arrests since the mullahs took power in 1979.

Many of Iran’s industrial infrastructure is obsolete, and many building and mining sites often operate with insufficient resources, resulting in frequent mishaps. Managers at these sites refuse to invest in safety measures, and workers are left to endure the consequences as a result of international restrictions prohibiting the purchase of new equipment.Iran’s mines employ over two million people, both directly and indirectly. There are over 5,400 operating mines in Iran, employing over 91,000 people, with 90 active coal mines employing approximately 10,000 people.

There are over 5,400 operating mines in Iran, employing over 91,000 people, with 90 active coal mines employing approximately 10,000 people.

 In a gas explosion, 23 miners were killed

Iran has had an unprecedented number of mining-related disasters in recent years. When a coal mine in northern Iran collapsed in May 2017 due to a methane gas explosion, 23 miners were murdered and dozens more were injured and trapped.

Several incidents occurred in early 2020. A mine worker was electrocuted in Dilijanon January 6 when scaffolding collided with high-voltage cables. When tunnel number 20 of the Hamkar coal mine collapsed a few days later, Mojtaba Tagizadeh died and four other miners were injured. In late January, a mining worker was killed in an underground accident at the Asafij coal mine in Bahabad, while a coal miner in Kerman was crushed to death by a concrete mixer. A stone worker was killed by a rockfall in Khusuf the next month, while two workers at the Tashkouieh mine in Bafq were choked to death by a gas leak.

In May 2017 due to a methane gas explosion, 23 miners were murdered and dozens more were injured and trapped.

The regime often makes bogus promises to individuals

Apart from the serious absence of safety precautions, Iranian laborers, particularly miners, experience significant wage delays. These are only a few of the hardships faced by Iranian employees. Because most employers are in some way linked with the government, their employees’ life and living situations are of little concern to them.

The regime often makes bogus promises to individuals who are fighting for their rights, gathering in the hundreds of thousands to express their grievances or detaining protestors rather than addressing the problems in Iranian society.Iranian workers have come to the unmistakable conclusion that the only way to solve their misery and economic problems is for the system to fall.

Iranian workers have come to the unmistakable conclusion that the only way to solve their misery and economic problems is for the system to fall.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook) and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouT