Huge Fire Erupts in Iranian Chemical Plant

At least six people were injured in a large blaze that broke out on Sunday in an Iranian chemical plant in the city of Qom, 150 km south of Tehran. According to local reports, over 100 firefighters were present at the scene of the fire, which caused significant damage to the chemical complex and adjacent industrial buildings. Just outside of Qom lies the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, a central component of Iran’s nuclear program. Last year, a string of mysterious fires, power outages and explosions in several sensitive Iranian sites, including chemical plants, were blamed on Israel, which Iran has in the past vowed to wipe off the face of the earth. Last month, The New York Times quoted unnamed Western intelligence officials as blaming Israeli agents for a large explosion and blackout at the Natanz underground complex, which reportedly caused extensive damage.