January 23, 2012

Mediterranean Resources Ltd. - Grant of stock options

VANCOUVER, Mediterranean Resources Ltd. (TSX: MNR) (Frankfurt: MHM1) (the "Company") advises that it has granted 300,000 incentive stock options to its Chairman and 100,000 stock options to its Corporate Secretary, each option exercisable at $0.17 per share for a period of two years and vesting immediately. This will bring the total number of options outstanding to 4,315,000 (representing under 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares pursuant to the Company's stock option plan). The grant of options is subject to the provisions of the Company's stock option plan, the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable securities laws.

Mediterranean Resources is focused on an emerging mineral region in north-eastern Turkey where it is developing two advanced exploration stage gold properties.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher Ecclestone"
President and CEO

For further information:
Christopher Ecclestone
President and CEO
604-669-3397
www.medresources.ca

Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities of the Company in any jurisdiction. The securities to be issued pursuant to the Unit Offering by the Company have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption therefrom under the 1933 Act and the securities laws of all applicable states.

Certain information set out in this News Release constitutes forward-looking information, which may include information relating to the exploration and development of the Company's properties. Forward-looking statements (often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expect", "may", "could", "anticipate" or "will" and similar expressions) may describe expectations, opinions or guidance that are not statements of fact and which may be based upon information provided by third parties. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions, expectations and estimates of management of the Company as at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company, risks associated with the industry in general, commodity prices and exchange rate changes, operational risks associated with exploration, development and production operations, delays or changes in plans, risks associated with the uncertainty of reserve estimates, health and safety risks and the uncertainty of estimates and projections of production, costs and expenses. In light of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements set out in this press release or incorporated herein by reference are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this press release, or incorporated herein by reference, are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement.