Dr. Reza Sami, Emeritus Professor, Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines
The Andaryan gold mine in Varzaghan County, East Azerbaijan Province, epitomizes the environmental degradation and labor exploitation endemic in Iran’s mining sector under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This paper examines the mine’s historical and financial context, extraction methods, environmental and labor abuses, and the systemic corruption underpinning these practices. Drawing on international best practices, the paper argues that democratic governance and transparent oversight are essential to transforming Iran’s mining sector into a model of sustainability and social justice. It highlights the urgent need for a democratic, transparent framework that prioritizes environmental stewardship and worker safety over the profit-driven interests of regime-linked entities. Read More