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Iran says refinery fire contained, rules out sabotage

Iranian officials rushed to reject speculation of sabotage behind a Tehran refinery blaze that followed a chain of incidents blamed on Israel. 

VAHID AHMADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP via Getty Images
A picture taken late on June 2, 2021, shows Iranian firefighters trying to extinguish a fire at an oil refinery in the Iranian capital Tehran. — VAHID AHMADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP via Getty Images

Only hours into a massive fire that ravaged the Tondguyan Oil Refinery south of the capital Tehran, one Iranian official after another dismissed speculation that it was an act of sabotage.

The refinery's public relations chief told the Iranian press that based on a review of surveillance camera footage, the sabotage theory was "absolutely ruled out." A prosecutor announced that the incident was not being treated as sabotage, but an investigation had been launched into the possible causes.

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