Fire at Iran Oil Ministry Building Put out

A fire broke out at the headquarter of Iranian Oil Ministry on Taleghani Street today, Sunday.

The building has been secured after the fire on the 15th floor was put out this morning, according to “Mehr News Agency”.

The building of the Oil Ministry was engulfed in smoke, the source of the smoke was from a fire, reportedly small, and the staff were evacuating the building.

No sign of fire was visible from outside, but a black smoke could be seen coming out of the 15th floor, according to the MNA reporter who was at the scene.

The informed source told MNA that the fire on the 15th floor has been extinguished and the staff are returning to the building.

Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker allegedly “smuggling fuel” to unspecified Arab states, according to state media.

Noteworthy, The IRGC’s naval forces have seized a foreign oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf that was smuggling fuel for some Arab countries,” Press TV reported, referring to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and quoting IRGC commander Ramezan Zirahi as saying.

The vessel was carrying 700,000 litres of fuel, and was carrying seven sailors, the TV station added.

In July, the IRGC seized a UK-flagged vessel, amid heightened tensions in the vital shipping lane.

The Guards, an elite force under the command of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said they seized the Stena Impero at the request of Iranian authorities for “not following international maritime regulations,” state television reported.

Northern Marine Management said the Stena Impero was heading north towards Iran. Northern Marine Group is owned by Stena AB.

On its part, Britain’s foreign minister said that information about the Stena Impero is badly sought, after the tanker, which had been heading to a port in Saudi Arabia, suddenly changed course after passing through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.