Fire Breaks Out In Eastern Iran's Birjand Refinery Reservoirs

Refinery reservoirs in the Birjand special economic zone in eastern Iran caught fire on Sunday, as reported by Iran's state media.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) conveyed that firefighters were promptly dispatched to combat the flames at the mini-refinery, with visible smoke extending several kilometers.

Authorities issued an evacuation order for a nearby factory as firefighting forces worked relentlessly to control the situation. Mohammad Ali Akhoundi, the director-general of Iran's South Khorasan Province's crisis management department, noted that "operational vehicles" were mobilized to extinguish the flames, emphasizing the urgency of the response due to the potential threat to life.

The cause of the incident remains unknown, though similar events in the past have often prompted speculations of domestic or foreign sabotage. Notably, numerous unexplained explosions and fires have occurred at various Iranian military, nuclear, and industrial facilities, including pipelines and refineries, since mid-2020.

On January 28, a significant fire erupted at an Iranian military industrial factory, suspected to be the result of a drone strike in Esfahan.

While authorities have not provided comprehensive explanations for the incidents, they have attributed several high-profile sabotage attacks on facilities to Israel. However, Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for any of the events.