Illicit Mining at Hormuz Island Put on Hold

Authorities in the southern province of Hormozgan moved to stop unauthorized mining activity in Hormuz Island that had sparked a firestorm of protest on social media.
The island is a popular tourist destination in the Strait of Hormuz famed for its ochre, a red-colored earth pigment that has made miles of land look majestic.
“Regrettably, some people have used the [recent] holiday occasion to conduct mining at Hormuz Island’s mountains without a permit from Hormozagan’s Industries, Mining and Trade Organization and its Natural Resources and Watershed Management office,” the latter’s director , Omid Zakeri, said.