By J. Kretschmann and R. Amiri Mining Engineering The Sangan iron ore mines (SIOM) in Iran are located in a remote area near the Afghanistan border. The SIOM deposit contains a geological resource of 1.1 Gt of mostly magnetite with an iron (Fe) grade ranging from 27 to 61%. The Iranian government plans a stepwise development of SIOM in cooperation with private companies to satisfy the growing demand of the Iranian steel industry. Sustainable development is an influential ethical concept in mining all around the world. However, a successful realization of a sustainable development plan is not possible without a foundation on the core values and regarding the specific circumstances of the individual mining country. This paper introduces SIOM and describes sustainable development activities undertaken during its development.