Iran's largest steelmaker appeals to global industry bodies after strike kills workers

Iran's largest steelmaker appeals to global industry bodies after strike kills workers

intellinews.com

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Iran's largest steelmaker appeals to global industry bodies after strike kills workers

Mobarakeh Steel Group, the largest steel producer in the Middle East and North Africa, has issued a dual appeal to international steel bodies and to the Iranian public after a strike on its facilities killed at least one worker and injured others, with chief executive Saeed Zarandi vowing to restore production in the shortest possible time.

Zarandi said the attack damaged power generation units and production sections of the complex despite US President Donald Trump having publicly stated that industrial infrastructure in Iran would not be targeted.

"Despite the prohibition of all international laws regarding attacks on civilian industries during wartime, the attack on Mobarakeh Steel resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of our dear colleagues and damage to power plants and production units," Zarandi said, addressing the Iranian public in a separate statement carried by Ilna on March 29.

The company said workers, retirees, customers, business partners and suppliers had sent a flood of messages of support following the strike, which Zarandi described as the company's greatest record in its history, surpassing even its output milestone of 7.5mn tonnes of crude steel production last year.

"In my view, alongside passing the threshold of 7.5mn tonnes of crude steel production and the sales and revenue records of last year, the greatest record in the history of Mobarakeh Steel is being set today, and that record is one of solidarity and unity," Zarandi said.

In a separate statement addressed to international institutions and global steel associations, Zarandi called the strike a clear violation of internationally accepted principles on the protection of civilian and industrial infrastructure and demanded action from bodies including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the World Steel Association.

"Mobarakeh Steel, as the largest steel producer in MENA, with a long history of membership and cooperation with international associations such as the World Steel Association, and holder of numerous international titles, awards and certificates in sustainable development and social responsibility, was targeted by an illegal attack with no humanitarian or industrial justification," the statement said.

Zarandi said the strike directly threatened the economic and social future of millions of people and undermined the reliability of the global steel supply chain.

He called on global steel bodies to emphasise the necessity of protecting civilian industrial infrastructure, warn of the destructive effects of such strikes on the regional and global economy, and stand alongside affected industries in their rebuilding efforts.

Mobarakeh Steel said it had already prepared contingency scenarios for production planning and product delivery ahead of any potential attack, and that it remained committed to its international obligations on sustainable development and environmental responsibility.

"We will commit, in the shortest possible time, to returning the production line to normal, standing shoulder to shoulder with the fighters of Islamic Iran," Zarandi said.

The facility holds multiple international awards for sustainable development and has been a member of the World Steel Association for many years. Iran ranked among the world's top ten steel producers before the war began on February 28.