Irans Karaj nuclear power plant fire: A fire has broken out at Irans Karaj nuclear power plant, sparking concerns of a possible terrorist attack. This incident follows the recent deadly violence in Turkey, where an aviation firm was targeted, leading to Turkish airstrikes on suspected Kurdish positions in Syria and Iraq. The Karaj facility, part of Irans nuclear program, had been attacked in 2022 as well.Israeli media claims cause not yet confirmed, video surfacesInitial reports, originating from an Iranian opposition group and covered by Israeli media, suggest that the fire engulfed the Karaj nuclear facility. While footage shows smoke rising from the site, the exact cause of the fire and details of any casualties have not yet been confirmed by Iranian authorities.Videos are appearing on social media of a fire which falsely claims to be at a nuclear plant in the #Karaj suburb of #Tehran.Instead, the fire appears to be at a diesel storage area adjacent to the gas/diesel-powered Montazer Ghaem Combined Cycle Power Plant at #Fardis, Karaj,… pic.twitter.com/fBb3t3GI9r— OSINT (Uri Kikaski) 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) October 24, 2024Escalating tensions in the regionThis event occurs shortly after an attack in Turkey left five people dead and 14 injured at the headquarters of Turkeys aviation company, TUSAS. Turkish security forces responded by neutralizing the two assailants. Following this, Turkey launched a second consecutive day of airstrikes targeting suspected Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq. The National Intelligence Organisation led the operations, utilizing armed drones to strike facilities linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its affiliates.History of attacks on Karaj Nuclear PlantThe Karaj nuclear site has been a target before. In 2022, after a terrorist attack on the facility, Iranian officials relocated sensitive centrifuge machines to a more secure location. The attack was widely blamed on Israel, given the ongoing tensions over Irans nuclear program, which continues to face international scrutiny. The Karaj plant is a crucial component of Irans controversial nuclear development efforts.
