Whenever tension increases between Iran and America, the world’s eyes first turn to oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz. It is not wrong to understand this because 20 percent of the world’s total crude oil passes through Hormuz and Iran has 12 percent of the world’s oil reserves. But does Iran only have oil? no way. A treasure trove of rare minerals is buried beneath Iran’s soil…

How big are Iran’s mineral reserves?

According to the Tehran Times report:

• Iran holds 15 percent of the world’s total mineral reserves.
• Iran accounts for 3 percent of the value of the world’s total mineral production.
• More than 68 types of minerals are found in Iran.
• Iran ranks 5th in the world in terms of natural resources. Its total value has been estimated at around 27.5 trillion dollars.

Lead and Zinc: Iran’s biggest weapon

Iran has huge reserves of lead and zinc:

• Iran has 3 percent of the world’s total lead and zinc reserves.
• Including lead and zinc, Iran has proven reserves of more than 220 million tonnes.
• Iran is the fourth largest producer of lead and zinc in Asia after China, Kazakhstan and India.
• Iran has the world’s largest zinc reserves. According to estimates in some reports, Iran has reserves of about 300 million tons of zinc.
• Iran ranks 11th in the world in terms of lead.
• Iran is the sixth largest zinc producer and fifth largest lead producer in Asia.
• The annual export potential of Iran’s lead and zinc sector is about $2 billion.
• About 80 percent of the production of this sector is exported to 15 countries.

The most interesting thing is that Iran has not even discovered deep underground mining yet. It has less environmental impact than surface mining. This means that Iran may have even more minerals, which have not been discovered yet.

Not just lead-zinc, Iran has much more

Iran’s mineral wealth includes several more strategic minerals:

• Copper: Iran has about 2.6 billion metric tons of copper reserves, which is 5 percent of the world’s total copper reserves. Iran ranks 7th in the world in terms of copper.
• Uranium: Iran also has uranium reserves.
• Lithium: Recently reserves of 86 lakh tonnes of lithium have been found in Iran. Lithium is the most important mineral for batteries of electric vehicles.
• Iron Ore: Iran is the country with the 7th largest iron ore reserves in the world, with 7.1 percent of the world’s reserves. Iran is at 9th place in terms of iron ore.
• Rare Earth Elements: Iran also has reserves of rare earth elements such as titanium.

Why are these minerals so important?

These minerals are not just ‘stones’, but they are the backbone of future technology:

• Zinc is used in making steel, batteries and electric vehicles.
• Lead is used in batteries, defense equipment and radiation protection.
• Copper is essential for electric wiring, electronics and renewable energy.
• Lithium is the backbone of electric vehicles and mobile batteries.

According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Iran’s mineral resources make it an important player in the emerging race for ‘critical minerals’. The demand for these minerals in clean energy, electric vehicles and modern defense systems has increased so much that they have got the status of ‘strategic goods’.

Iran’s mineral strength despite sanctions

The question is that if Iran has such huge mineral reserves, then why is it not able to take full advantage of it? American sanctions are the biggest reason behind this. Due to sanctions, Iran is unable to get machinery and technology from western countries, due to which the mining sector is not able to work at its full capacity.

Despite this, Iran has strengthened its mineral trade with Asian markets, especially China. Iran exports a large part of its copper and zinc to China. In 2023-2024, almost all of Iran’s zinc concentrate exports went to China.

So this fight is not limited to oil only?

France’s Geological Survey Agency (BRGM) has warned that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is shaking not only the oil and gas markets, but all the mineral resources markets of the world. The production of minerals like aluminium, sulfur and helium, which require natural gas, is also being affected.

G7 countries like America, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan have already decided that by 2030, not more than 60 percent of their imports of ‘rare earth elements’ should be from any one country. This means that the G7 wants to reduce its dependence on China and in this effort Iran can emerge as an alternative.

America is engaged in the wrong war, as Washington is spending billions of dollars fighting Iran and global headlines are being made about oil prices and missiles. This revelation has come from a secretly released document of China.

According to the document released by Beijing, the balance of power may change in the coming decades. China’s 141-page 15th Five-Year Plan, unveiled at the National People’s Congress on March 5, outlines an ambitious strategy to dominate the technologies and industries that will define the next generation of economic and military power.

What Shanaka Anselm Perera told
Investment analyst and author Shanaka Anselm Perera said in a post on X that no one is paying attention, this is the real issue. This plan looks less like a general economic policy document and more like a national technical mobilization. AI features prominently in this document and Beijing has signaled plans to incorporate AI into much of its economy over the next decade.

What is China going to do?
He told that China has declared humanoid robotics as a major industry, the production of which is expected to double in the next 5 years. Under this plan, China is committed to rapidly expanding Earth Quantum Communication Network, Nuclear-Fusion Research and Advancing Brain-Computer Interface Technologies. Additionally, the value of AI-related industries alone is expected to exceed 10 trillion yuan over the plan period, which is equivalent to approximately $1.4 trillion as per the current exchange set.

Perera argues that the comprehensiveness of the strategy is what makes it strategically important. He said that this is not an economic plan but it is a plan for a war which the United States is not fighting. He further said that China’s strategy is much more comprehensive. The target is to spread AI throughout the economy, from heavy industry to services. The purpose of robotics is to provide basis to industrial production.

What is under China’s control?
China currently processes most of the world’s rare minerals, which are vital for everything from electric vehicles to cutting-edge radar. The engines, sensors and weapons systems of each F-35 fighter jet require hundreds of pounds of rare metals. Missile defense batteries, electronic warfare equipment and precision ammunition also depend on them.

Xi Jinping’s 141-page roadmap aims to ensure that the materials needed to achieve formidable combat capability remain under Chinese control for the next 15 years. Analysts say that if China succeeds in incorporating these materials, robotics and AI into a single state-controlled system, then Beijing will be the frontrunner in the race to become the next global superpower.

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a historic announcement while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on 1 February 2026. He said that the government will establish Rare Earth Corridor. This corridor will be built especially in those four states where there is abundance of rare earth minerals. These include Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

What did the central government say on rare earth minerals in the budget?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clearly said in her budget speech, ‘We will now support mineral-rich states like Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to set up dedicated rare earth corridors. Their objective is to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing.

This move is based on the Rare Earth Permanent Magnets Scheme launched in November 2025, for which a provision of Rs 7,280 crore was made. Now this scheme is being further strengthened in Budget 2026.

What are rare earth minerals and why are they so important?
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 17 minerals, such as neodymium, dysprosium and praseodymium etc. These are called ‘new generation oils’ because modern technology is difficult without them. They are used in many ways:

• Batteries and motors for electric vehicles (EV).
• Permanent magnets (which are used in high-speed motors).
• Renewable energy (wind turbine, solar panels).
• Smartphones, computers, hi-tech gadgets.
• Defense Equipment (Missile, Radar, Jet Engine).
• Aerospace and Clean Energy Technology.

Refining of these minerals is very complex, because first it is mined, then crushing, separation, chemical processing and finally high-purity refining.

What is the problem of China’s monopoly and India?

China is the largest supplier of rare earths in the world. He controls about 60% of global mining and more than 90% of processing/refining. 90% of permanent magnets are also produced in China. In the past years, China has banned or limited exports several times, due to which the global supply chain was affected. India is also largely dependent on China for these minerals, because more than 45% of India’s rare earth imports come from China. Because of this, India’s EV, renewable energy, defense and high-tech industries are at risk. This announcement of Budget 2026 is to end this dependency.

What will the Rare Earth Corridor do?

This will be a special network that will promote mining, set up processing plants, support research and development, promote manufacturing (especially permanent magnets) and strengthen the supply chain by connecting these four states.

These states were chosen because the beach sands here contain a lot of monazite (the main rare earth source). According to one estimate:

• Andhra Pradesh: 3.69 million tonnes
• Odisha: 3.06 million tonnes
• Tamil Nadu: 2.46 million tonnes
• Kerala: 1.84 million tonnes

Overall, India has about 11 million tonnes of reserves. Along with this, 2.5% basic custom duty on the material used to make high-end permanent magnets from monazite was removed in the budget. Relief in custom duty will be given on import of machinery and equipment required for rare earth processing. This will increase domestic production, reduce imports and India itself will be able to supply to the world.

What benefits will India get from this?

India can become a superpower because of rare earth minerals, because control over these minerals will provide strategic advantage. India will become a global player in EV, clean energy, AI, semiconductor and defense…

• Self-reliant India will get new strength. Make in India, EV mission and renewable energy targets will be accomplished.
• Thousands and lakhs of jobs will be created in mining, processing, research, factories.
• Industry experts (like CII) say that with this India can become a leader in rare earth magnets and critical minerals.
• Defense and high-tech sectors will be strong.

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (October 31) called on member countries to increase trade and investment, but also warned that they should not be part of the US effort to reduce the world’s dependence on China.

Xi Jinping became the only global superpower leader at the summit, after US President Donald Trump left South Korea a day earlier. At the beginning of the conference, he was seen smilingly shaking hands with the leaders and ministers of Japan, Canada, Australia and host South Korea.

What did Xi Jinping say in his address?

In his address, Xi said that Asia should stick to the policy of joining hands with each other, and not to the idea of ​​breaking the supply chain. He indirectly made a strong comment on the efforts of Western countries to move factories out of China. “We should strengthen industrial supply chains, not break them,” Xi said.

In another speech to business leaders, read by his representative, Xi took indirect aim at the United States, saying APEC countries should oppose protectionism and unilateral policies and “save the world from returning to the law of the jungle.”

However, China’s recent policies have weakened Xi’s appeal somewhat. In October, Beijing proposed new export controls on rare earth minerals, which would have given it extraordinary control over other countries. These minerals play an important role in the manufacturing of modern technologies such as semiconductors, batteries and jet aircraft. China dominates almost 90% of the world’s supply.

After meeting with Trump, China agreed to temporarily halt these controls. This meeting turned into a kind of diplomatic ceasefire between the two leaders and Trump praised Xi’s stability.

Xi Jinping and Sanae Takaichi met

But on Friday, Xi faced Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is considered a vocal critic of China. Takaichi raised issues of rare earth export controls, disputes in the East China Sea, and Japanese citizens detained on espionage charges in his meeting with Xi. He said that Japan has serious concerns about China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Takaichi said, “There are definitely differences between us, but it is necessary to talk openly and directly on these issues.”

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US President Donald Trump has once again given a strict economic warning to China. He said that if there is no trade agreement between America and China, then China will have to face tariffs of up to 155 percent. Trump made this statement during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, where the two leaders signed an important agreement on mineral resources.

Trump said, “I think we are going to make a wonderful trade deal with China. This deal will be beneficial for both countries and the whole world.” He told that he is going to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. Probably this meeting can be held in South Korea in the next few weeks.

What did Trump say about China?

Trump said, “I think China respects America very much now. They are already giving us a huge amount in the form of 55% tariff. But if there is no deal, from November 1 this rate will increase to 155%.”

He further said, “Earlier many countries took economic advantage of America, but now this will not happen. We are protecting our interests. This deal will be such that it will be beneficial for both America and China.”

Why is this statement important?

This statement of Trump has come at a time when China has imposed strict controls on the export of rare earth minerals used in smartphones, electric vehicles and defense technologies. These minerals are very strategically important for America.

Experts say that this tariff step of Trump is a direct response to these export restrictions of China. This may further inflame the already ongoing trade war between America and China.

The Trump administration has already imposed heavy tariffs on China, especially in 2018-19 when duties were increased on hundreds of billions of dollars of trade between the two countries. Now once again Trump has indicated that if China continues with its unfair trade policies, America will take strict steps to protect its industries and jobs.

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President Donald Trump has reacted sharply to BRICS countries and said that America can now impose import duties (tariffs) on these countries. He said that the real objective of BRICS is to weaken the power of the dollar. In a meeting with Argentinian President Javier Mellí at the White House, Trump made it clear that America will not allow the power of the dollar to bow before any international alliance. He said, “Whoever wants to stay in the BRICS group can stay, but America will impose tariffs on them because this group is against the dollar.”

took a jibe at China

Trump accused China of recently deciding to buy soybeans from Argentina instead of the US, weakening relations between Washington and Buenos Aires. He said, “China always tries to create a rift, but it will be of no use.” On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that China deliberately took this step to harm American soybean farmers. He said that America is now considering reducing dependence on China in cooking oil and other products. Let us tell you that Trump had recently imposed additional 100% duty on China, after which the relations between the two countries have become worse than before.

Increasing tension in US-China relations

In Trump’s second term, relations between America and China have become more tense than before. Differences between the two countries are continuously increasing due to trade war, technology competition and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. China has recently banned the export of rare earth mineral technology, which has further soured US-China relations.

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US President Donald Trump took a major economic decision against China on Saturday (11 October 2025). He announced that from November 1, 2025, 100 percent tariff will be imposed on products coming from China. This tax will also be applicable on those items on which duty is already being charged. This decision means that now American consumers and companies may have to pay double the price for Chinese goods than before.

Trump also announced that export controls on critical software will be implemented from November 1. Its purpose is to prevent China from getting easy access to American technology. This step has been taken in response to the recent restrictions imposed by China on the export of rare earth minerals. These minerals are considered very important in electronics, defense and energy sectors.

China has become very aggressive: Trump

Donald Trump, while sharing a long message on his social media platform Truth Social, said that China is now acting very aggressively. He wrote that China is sending letters to the countries of the world to impose export controls on many goods, especially rare earth minerals. Trump said that this policy will have a serious impact on the global market and supply chain. He said that this policy of China will create problems for every country, because rare earth minerals are used in mobiles, electric vehicles, computer chips and defense equipment.

America will not become China’s prisoner: Trump

Trump said that China’s aim is to hold the world economically hostage, but America will not let this happen. He described the restrictions imposed by China on the export of rare earth minerals as “sinister and hostile steps”. Trump said that China had been working on this strategy for a long time and now its real intentions have come to light.

America also has counter power

In his statement, Trump also said that America also has such monopoly rights which can have a greater impact than China. He said that till now these rights had not been used, but America is ready to use them if the circumstances change. According to Trump, China has sent a detailed letter to many countries which contains a list of minerals on which export ban has now been imposed.

Trump-Xi meeting canceled, meeting will not take place in APEC conference

Trump also told that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was scheduled during the APEC summit to be held in South Korea, but now it will not happen. He said that in the present situation this meeting has no meaning. America will wait for China’s response and after that further strategy will be decided.

Start of new trade war?

After this statement, the stir in international politics has intensified. Many experts believe that this step of Trump could be the beginning of a new trade war between America and China. This tension can affect global trade, technology industry and energy sector.

Potential impact on the global economy

Economic analysts say that increasing US tariffs on China will have a major impact on the global supply chain and manufacturing industry. If China retaliates, the conflict could spread to semiconductor, automobile, defense and energy sectors. Earlier too, an increase in inflation was seen due to trade disputes between America and China. Now that both countries are at the center of technological competition, this dispute may deepen further.

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Pakistan has sent the first consignment of rare minerals to America by dealing with Donald Trump. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir have been engulfed in their own country. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed concern over this deal with America.

Pakistan sent rare keys to America

According to the report of Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Shahbaz government exported rare meaning metal to Yodimium, PRASEODYMIM, Antimony, Copper Constrate. In September 2025, there was an agreement between American company US Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Military Engineering Unit Frontier Works Organization (FWO).

Under this deal, the US company is going to invest about $ 500 million for mineral processing and development facilities in Pakistan. According to the report, the American company USSM described this delivery as a milestone in Pakistan-US strategic partnership.

Imran Khan’s party raised questions

USSM CEO Stacey W Hasti said that this will expand the business and the friendship between the two countries will be deep. This agreement can help Pakistan in setting foot in the global important mineral market, which can benefit Pakistan by billions of dollars. Pakistan’s opposition party PTI, terming it a secret deal, has demanded the complete information related to the Pakistan government to make public.

This will make the situation worse

Citing the report of the USSM shipment and the recent Financial Times, PTI leader Sheikh Wakas Akram said that such careless, unbalanced and secret agreements will further instigate the unstable situation in the country. He has demanded that Parliament and the people be taken into confidence and the full details of all such deals should be made public. He said that his party will not accept any agreement that is against the interests of the public or the country.

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India-Rus Trade: The trade deal has not yet been signed between India and America. Prior to this deal, Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary Hovard Lutynik has given a big statement. He said that India will have to treat America properly.

Hovard Lutynik, Commerce Secretary, Donald Trump, also said that we have to improve many countries and also emphasized that such policies should be eliminated which are harming American interests.

‘India needs to open its market’

In an interview given to the News Nation, Lutynik said that India should open its market and should not adopt policies that can harm America. He said, ‘We have many countries that need to improve, such as Switzerland and Brazil. India is also such a country which should take the right steps towards America. Open your markets and stop work that harm America. This is why we have disagreement with these countries.

‘India will have to cooperate’

Lutnik said that business issues may be resolved over time, but if India wants to deliver its products to American customers, then it will have to cooperate with America. He said, ‘These issues will be resolved with time, but it will take time. These countries have to understand that if you want to sell American consumers, then you have to cooperate with the President of America. So there are some issues left. Big countries like India, they will be resolved over time. Lutnik also said, “The economy of 2026 will be the economy of Donald Trump.”

This statement came at a time when a high -level Indian team led by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has visited America. The Ministry of Commerce said on 26 September that this tour had a successful talks to strengthen trade and investment relations between India and the US.