Iran has announced a jump in its gold reserves allocation to 320 tonnes after a discovery of three new gold mines showed 16 tonnes of proven net gold reserves, the Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The three new gold mines were discovered in Saqqez city in Kurdistan province of Western Iran, the news agency quoted Behrouz Borna, Deputy Head of Iran's Geology Organization for Exploration Affairs, as saying.

The latest discovery amounts to $850 million.

Iran places 22nd in terms of gold and foreign currency reserves based from data released by the Central Intelligence Agency. Earlier this year, Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines said Iran's gold reserves have reached a new record at nearly $17.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Romanian president Traian Basescu urged newly sworn environment minister Attila Korodi to take a definitive stand on the fate of a planned Canadian-owned gold mine at Rosia Montana.

"Since 1997, the Romanian authorities have shunned responsibility regarding Rosia Montana... If you think that the mine can work and if you want to do Romania some good by creating jobs, go ahead and give the necessary permit quickly," AFP quoted Basecu as telling Korodi.

"If not, just say no to the company, because every day that passes will cost us a lot in an upcoming lawsuit."

Environmentalists, archaeologists, historians and international organisations strongly opposed the Rosia Montana mine project after Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC), 80 per cent owned by the Canadian company Gabriel Resources Ltd (GBU), said it will use cyanide to remove 300 tonnes of gold in the village of Rosia Montana. Opponents claim the mine project, said to hold the largest undeveloped gold deposit in Europe, endangers not only the environment but also the priceless Roman-era mining galleries.

However, Korodi said the permit-application process for Gabriel Resources Ltd (GBU) cannot just be haphazardly reviewed because the mere size of the project requires caution, Bloomberg News reported, quoting the new environment minister in an interview with Radio France International.

"I will analyze in great detail in the next few weeks" the Rosia Montana project's environment assessment procedure, Korodi said.

The Rosia Montana mine project has reported gold resources of 14.6 million ounces and silver at 64.9 million ounces, both measured and indicated. It also has 10.1 million ounces gold and 47.6 million ounces of silver reserves in the proven and probable category at grades of 1.46 grams per tonne (g/t) and 6.88 g/t respectively.