Iran’s mining industry is under increasing scrutiny following a surge in fatal accidents. In the past six months, 20 incidents have claimed the lives of at least 60 workers, with the Tabas coal mine disaster standing out as one of the deadliest, leaving over 50 workers dead and 20 injured.

While these figures are staggering, they likely represent only a fraction of the true scale of the dangers facing Iran’s miners, as many accidents go unreported. Experts point to outdated equipment and lax safety measures as major contributors to the growing number of incidents. In the case of the Tabas disaster, reports suggest that the employer ignored prior warnings about the mine’s unsafe conditions. Yet, government officials have largely downplayed these accusations. Ahmad Meydari, Iran’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, dismissed claims of safety violations, stating, “There was no violation, and this was simply an unfortunate accident.”

However, the stories of miners’ families paint a grim picture. One relative shared a devastating account with Shargh newspaper, describing how families were forced to pay for the transport of their loved ones’ bodies, with no access to proper morgue services. This personal tragedy underscores the lack of support for mining families, whose loved ones work in dangerous conditions for meager wages.

The Iranian Statistical Center reports that as of 2022, over 134,000 people are employed in Iran’s mining sector. Many workers lack basic labor protections such as hard labor insurance; a significant portion earn less than the legal minimum wage. Some miners reportedly make as little as 8.5 million tomans per month (approximately $142), far below the minimum wage. After the Tabas disaster, media outlets revealed that many miners had monthly earnings ranging from $123 to $165.

Iran’s mining sector has seen more than 3,000 accidents between 2010 and 2019, injuring over 13,000 workers and killing more than 430. The frequency of these incidents highlights the failure of authorities to address systemic safety issues in the industry. Many of these accidents, including the tragic Tabas explosion, were preventable, making the current state of Iran’s mining industry a national crisis.

Despite possessing one of the world’s largest mineral reserves, mining contributes just two percent to Iran’s GDP, reflecting both inefficiency and mismanagement in the sector. As long as safety remains an afterthought, the human cost of Iran’s mining industry will continue to rise.

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 – YouTu