Iran, Uzbekistan Move to Deepen Mining and Minerals Cooperation, Eye Joint Projects and Investment

Iran and Uzbekistan have agreed to expand cooperation and investment in the mining and mineral industries, as both governments look to convert improving political alignment into larger trade flows and more joint industrial projects.

The understanding was reached during talks in Tashkent between Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, and two senior Uzbek officials: Minister of Mining and Geology Bobur Islamov and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. Iranian state media reported that the sides discussed expanding bilateral economic ties with a particular emphasis on mining and minerals, positioning the sector as a near-term engine for practical cooperation. Atabak said the agreements achieved in Tashkent could translate into a meaningful increase in trade and commercial exchanges, while noting that the two countries’ presidents have set clear expectations for raising the overall level of cooperation.

On the Uzbek side, official reporting described a broader agenda that includes the implementation of joint projects and strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships—language that typically signals follow-on work between agencies and companies to identify bankable projects and investment structures.

The meetings took place against the backdrop of Atabak’s multi-day visit to Uzbekistan, which began on November 9 with a delegation that included senior officials from Iran’s industrial and mining sectors. Alongside minister-to-minister talks, the delegation also met Iranian entrepreneurs and business representatives active in Uzbekistan, underscoring Tehran’s focus on building commercial pipelines in parallel to government-level agreements.

Additional discussions referenced by regional coverage included developing joint mining ventures, improving customs processes, and better leveraging the industrial capacities of both economies steps aimed at reducing friction in cross-border trade and making industrial cooperation easier to execute at scale.

While neither side detailed specific projects or investment volumes at this stage, the direction is clear: mining and minerals are being positioned as a priority lane for Iran–Uzbekistan economic engagement, with follow-up work expected on concrete joint initiatives and trade facilitation measures.

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