Located near Saqqez in Iran’s Kurdistan province, the Qolqoleh gold deposit now produces 500 kg of gold annually, overcoming sanctions and environmental challenges while driving regional development.

Despite US-Israeli strikes on its steel plants, Iran produced 7.26 million tonnes in Q1 2026, retaining its tenth global ranking through domestic parts localization and rapid recovery capabilities.

Iran is bypassing the US naval blockade by using overland routes, allowing Tehran to maintain trade and oil shipments to key partners like China and Russia.

Ghodrati says the country’s oil is being sold at twice the contracted price.

Passenger flights between Iran and China, as well as between Iran and Russia, have resumed after a two-month suspension.

The World Bank says energy prices are projected to surge by 24% in 2026 due to severe disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Following the recent imposed war, Iran shifted the game by closing the Strait of Hormuz – a renewable, low-cost threat. Unlike other cards, this credible leverage forced the US into negotiations and to make concessions.