Story perspectives

China and Iran Launch Joint Rare-Earth Workshop Program

8/15/2026

Summary

China Iran Workshop

China and Iran have launched a joint scientific workshop program on rare-earth exploration and processing.
The program will be funded with 30,000 yuan and will cover travel for Iranian participants and lodging for Chinese researchers.
Iran’s central region, which contains rare-earth anomalies across 7,000 km², remains at an early stage of extraction and processing.
The cooperation gives Iran Chinese know-how and lets China gain geological insight, avoiding a commercial supply chain.

Summary

Japan-US Mining

Japan and the United States signed a MoU in March 2026 between Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump, targeting deep-sea rare-earth mining near Minamitorishima by 2028.
Vietnam’s December 2025 geology-law amendment classifies rare earths as a “strategic” mineral and bans exports while mandating domestic processing.
Korean defense firms channel 90 percent of heavy rare-earth needs through Russia and Arab states to evade China’s export controls.

History

Historical Context

In 2010 China cut rare-earth export quotas, prompting the United States, Japan and the EU to file a WTO dispute. The WTO ruled against China in August 2014, leading Beijing to lift the quotas by January 2015. Because China supplied about 30 % of global rare-earth output then (USGS) and now dominates processing, Japan, the United States and Vietnam/South Korea have accelerated domestic projects and alternative mining partnerships.

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China Iran Workshop

China and Iran have launched a joint scientific workshop program on rare-earth exploration and processing.
The program will be funded with 30,000 yuan and will cover travel for Iranian participants and lodging for Chinese researchers.
Iran’s central region, which contains rare-earth anomalies across 7,000 km², remains at an early stage of extraction and processing.
The cooperation gives Iran Chinese know-how and lets China gain geological insight, avoiding a commercial supply chain.

1 / 3