With the process for the production of iron from an iron-oxygen combination, preferably ore, the iron-oxygen combination is essentially reduced in an ore reduction vessel with a reaction gas from a melting crucible, then supplied to this melting crucible and melted by adding carbon-containing fuels and oxygen-containing gases.According to the invention, the reaction gases escaping from the melted iron are partially subjected to after-burning in the melting crucible. The thus developing heat is largely transmitted to the melted material and the reaction gases are cooled and reduced with reducing agents on their way to the ore reduction vessel.