"Bahraman: Support Package Should Pave the Way for Mineral Exports."

According to the Iran Chamber of Commerce Online News Agency, a meeting of the Iran Chamber of Commerce’s Mining and Mineral Industries Commission was held to discuss the proposed support package under the resolution of the Council of Ministers, with the participation of Mohammadreza Bahraman, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA).

During the meeting, Bahraman, referring to the recent 12-day war and its impact on the national economy, stated:
"To maintain production capacity and safeguard jobs in manufacturing units, we must facilitate exports and remove existing barriers."

While appreciating the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade (MIMT) for its support package, he added:
"This package should not be viewed as a short-term measure. It must be designed with a broader vision to pave the way for exports."

Emphasizing the importance of empowering the private sector, Bahraman stressed:
"Our clear proposal to the heads of the three branches of government is to utilize the private sector’s capabilities and place it alongside policymakers. Decision-making processes must be entrusted to the private sector. The Iranian economy must shift away from state control—there is no alternative for the country’s future."

Bahram Shakouri, Chairman of the Mining and Mineral Industries Commission of the Iran Chamber, also joined the meeting online, acknowledging the strengths of the ministry’s package while criticizing the new export duties imposed on the mineral industries.
He said:
"Given the sector’s capacity, mining can generate the foreign currency the country needs. The foreign exchange bureaucracy must be simplified, and export channels expanded. Royalty fees should reflect actual extraction volumes, overdue checks must be given consideration, and greater flexibility should be provided regarding insurance and taxation for economic actors."

Sajjad Gharghi, Vice Chairman of the Commission, highlighted the need for immediate export facilitation, stating:
"In wartime conditions, enabling exports is essential to secure foreign currency inflows. Considering the government’s constraints, this support package is generally well-designed, aimed primarily at preserving conditions and supporting critical supply chains—a package essentially written for survival."

Mehrdad Akbariyan, another Vice Chairman of the Commission, criticized the new mineral duties in the Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME):
"The Exchange is supposed to facilitate trade, but this directive has disrupted market stability. The base prices are unrealistic and must be revised. While the ministry has acknowledged this, the IME must also be convinced."
He added:
"Given the current limitations, petrochemical and oil exports alone cannot meet the country’s foreign currency needs. Therefore, mineral exports must be pursued and facilitated with greater urgency. Instead of imposing restrictions like duties, the government should ease conditions regarding insurance, taxes, and tariffs."

Finally, Kamran Vakil, Vice President of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Mineral Products of Iran, presented a report on the strengths and weaknesses of the list of raw and semi-finished materials for mineral, metallic and non-metallic industries, as well as oil, gas, and petrochemical products in relation to Clause P of Article 99 of the Seventh Development Plan Law.