In today’s steel industry, the strategic game begins not in factories but deep within the earth. Global giants secure their supply chains by acquiring mines, and now Iran, through Mobarakeh Steel’s recent initiative in Afghanistan, seeks to complete the missing link in its production chain. Saeed Zarandi, CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Group, announced the company’s readiness for practical investment in Afghanistan, detailing plans for beneficiation and pelletizing plants, and even a cross-border special industrial zone. With its domestic production lines for billets and sheets already at full capacity, securing a stable supply of raw materials is critical for future growth. This bold move not only ensures feedstock for its plants but also, through technology transfer and access to Central Asian markets, places Iran on the cusp of entering the multi-billion-dollar league of global steelmaking miners for the first time.