TEHRAN – Iran exported $4.4 billion of minerals and mineral products during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-November 20), an official with Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) said on Monday.

The figure showed a 34 percent rise compared to the same period last year, IRNA quoted Amir Sabbagh, the IMIDRO planning and strategic supervision director as saying on Monday.

Mehdi Karbasian, the head of IMIDRO, announced in July that 34 mining and mineral industries projects, costing $7.2 billion, would become operational in the country by the end of the current Iranian calendar year.

Back in May, Karbasian said that Iran had offered $40 billion in mining projects to foreign investors.

MA/MG