Iran Announces Control Over Fire at Petrochemical Plant and "Investigates Cause"

The Iranian state television reported that a fire broke out at a petrochemical plant in southwestern Iran today, Tuesday, but a local official stated that the fire is under control and caused no injuries, according to Reuters. The report added, citing the director of the Mahshahr port, that the fire broke out in a waste storage area at a facility in the special economic zone for petrochemicals. The port director was quoted as saying, "Fortunately, there were no injuries and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident." In July, an explosion at an oil pipeline in western Iran resulted in the deaths of three workers during maintenance work, AFP reported citing Shana news agency. The agency stated that the explosion in the pipeline, operated by a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company in Ilam Province, also led to four people being injured. It reported, "The explosion occurred during the cleaning and repair of an oil pipeline (from the Gashme Khush field) to Ahvaz," the capital of Khuzestan Province, adding that the fire that broke out was brought under control and the area secured.