Large Fire Breaks Out at Iranian State-Owned Oil Refinery... "No Possibility of External Attack"

Fire at State-Owned Refinery Near Tehran
Iran Authorities Suspect Gas Pipeline Damage Due to Hot Weather

On the 2nd (local time), a large fire broke out at the refining facility of the state-owned oil company Tondguyan located in Tehran, the capital of Iran, with flames soaring high. The Iranian government stated that there were no casualties from this fire and that it was not caused by an external attack. Iranian fire authorities estimate that the fire started due to a rupture in the liquefied petroleum gas pipeline. Tehran, Iran = AFP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A large-scale fire broke out at a state-owned oil refining facility located in Tehran, the capital of Iran, raising international attention amid concerns about the possibility of a fire caused by terrorism. However, the Iranian government dismissed the possibility of terrorism, stating that the incident occurred due to damage to part of the facility caused by hot weather, not an external attack.

According to local media including the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency on the 2nd (local time), a large-scale fire broke out at around 7:18 PM at the refining facility of the state-owned oil company Tondguyan, located about 20 km from downtown Tehran. Earlier, the Iranian Navy ship Kharg sank due to an unexplained fire, and the subsequent large-scale fire raised concerns about terrorism, attracting international attention.

However, the Iranian government dismissed the possibility of terrorism. On the same day, Moaytaba Khaledi, spokesperson for Iran's Emergency Management Organization, stated in a press release, "The possibility of sabotage (intentional destruction) has not been immediately confirmed," denying the possibility of a fire caused by an external attack. He added, "About 10 ambulances and fire trucks were deployed to the fire site, and nearby hospitals are also preparing for potential patients." No casualties have been reported so far.

The Iranian fire authorities also explained, "It is estimated that the fire was caused by damage to a liquefied petroleum gas pipeline," adding, "The recent hot weather with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius appears to be a major factor in the fire."