Middle East War: Multiple Explosions Hit Oil Refinery In Iran; First Major Blasts Since Ceasefire

Tehran: A major explosion has occurred at an oil refinery located on Lavan Island in Iran. This marks the first reported explosion in Iran following the recent ceasefire. According to reports, the cause of the blast remains unknown. Iran's Mehr News Agency has reported details regarding this incident. Iran's Lavan Island is a strategically significant island situated in the Persian Gulf. Covering an area of ​​78 square kilometers, Lavan serves as one of Iran's primary crude oil export terminals.

Where is Lavan Island?

Lavan Island is located in Hormozgan Province—a region where vast quantities of oil are exported and refined—and is also situated directly atop the "Lavan Gas Field." Lavan Island lies in the eastern Persian Gulf, positioned approximately 450 to 500 kilometers west of the Strait of Hormuz.

At least four US/Israeli airstrikes targeted the Lavan Oil Refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf.

At least two refinery tanks are now on fire, and the facility's staff have been evacuated. These strikes took place several hours after the beginning of the ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/1xPIXpM5Ki

— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) April 8, 2026

When was the ceasefire established?

It is worth noting that a ceasefire was established early Wednesday morning, bringing a halt to the forty-day-long conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance. Under the terms of this agreement, both parties have consented to refrain from attacking one another for a period of 15 days.

A report by Mehr News stated, "It is imperative for both parties to adhere to the declared ceasefire; consequently, any act of aggression against Iran will be met with a forceful response."

What happened at Lavan Island?

The Mehr News Agency reported that multiple explosions rocked the Lavan Island refinery on Wednesday morning, shortly after the ceasefire went into effect.

Mehr News reported: "This morning, following the establishment of the ceasefire, several explosions occurred at the Lavan Island refinery. The source of these explosions has not yet been identified."

The agency provided no further details regarding the scale or specific cause of the blasts. Additionally, according to the Mehr News Agency, multiple explosions have also been reported on Siri Island; however, the causes behind these blasts also remain unknown.