Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Qanit, met with a high-level delegation from Iran’s private sector to discuss deepening economic cooperation and investment in Afghanistan’s mining industry.

The delegation included Mehrdad Akbarian, Head of Iran’s Iron Ore Association, and Hossein Roustaei, a representative from the Iranian Embassy in Kabul. Discussions focused on opportunities for exploration, extraction, and infrastructure investment across Afghanistan’s rich and largely untapped mineral reserves.

Akbarian praised the Afghan government for its hospitality and stressed that Iranian companies are eager to play a role in Afghanistan’s economic development through long-term, mutually beneficial projects.

In response, Qanit welcomed the delegation’s proposals and reaffirmed the Afghan government’s commitment to facilitating investment under Afghanistan’s mining laws and regulations. He emphasized that the ministry would work to ensure a transparent, investor-friendly environment that benefits both sides.

Officials say the talks reflect the growing momentum in Afghanistan-Iran economic relations, with mining identified as a key sector for future cooperation. Afghanistan is home to significant deposits of iron ore, copper, rare earths, and other critical minerals, making it an attractive destination for regional investors. (ILKHA)