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Agence France-Presse

An earthquake struck Iran on Friday less than 50km (30 miles) from the country’s only nuclear power plant, monitors said. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.
The US Geological Survey said the 5.1 magnitude quake struck 44km from the southwestern city of Borazjan and at a depth of 38km.
Its reported epicentre is 45km east of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, on the southwest Gulf coast.
The Iranian Seismological Centre said in a preliminary report on its website that the strength of the quake was 4.9 magnitude and that its depth was 10km (6.2 miles).

The quake jolted villages near Kalameh city, the semi-official ISNA news agency said, adding there were no reports of any casualties or damage.
“Based on the assessments of teams in the field, fortunately this earthquake has caused no damage,” the head of the province’s crisis centre, Jahangir Dehghani, said on state television.
“The Ahram-Kalameh road was blocked by a landslide and it is currently being cleared,” he added.
Buildings in nearby towns and villages had some “cracked walls but nothing has collapsed”.
Photographs published by Iranian news agencies showed bulldozers clearing a road and damage done to the walls of a historical castle in Bushehr.

The Bushehr plant, which produces 1,000 megawatts of power, was completed by Russia after years of delay and officially handed over in September 2013.
In 2016, Russian and Iranian firms began building two additional 1,000-megawatt reactors at Bushehr. Their construction was expected to take 10 years.
Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbours have often raised concerns about the reliability of the Bushehr facility and the risk of radioactive leaks in case of a major earthquake. There were no immediate reports of damage to the facility.
US hits Iran with new sanctions, hopes for prisoner dialogue
The Islamic republic is seeking to reduce its reliance on oil and gas with 20 nuclear power plants planned over the coming years. Its nuclear programme is at the centre of a dispute with the United States, which suspects Iran is trying to obtain a nuclear weapons capability, something the Islamic republic vehemently denies.

Tensions have escalated since May last year when US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 accord. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Iran sits on top of major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity.
In November 2017, a 7.3-magnitude quake in the western province of Kermanshah killed 620 people.
In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake in southeastern Iran decimated the ancient mud-brick city of Bam and killed at least 31,000 people.
Iran’s deadliest quake was a 7.4-magnitude tremor in 1990 that killed 40,000 people in northern Iran, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless.


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Iran

Earthquake strikes near nuclear power plant in Iran, amid concerns over radioactive leaks

The nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit the region on December 27. Photo: EPA-EFE

A picture taken on December 27, 2019 shows the Ahram-Farashband road blocked by a landslide triggered by an earthquake in Iran's southern Bushehr province. - An earthquake struck Iran on Friday less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the country's only nuclear power plant, monitors said. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. The US Geological Survey said the 5.1 magnitude quake struck 44 kilometres (27 miles) from the southwestern city of Borazjan and at a depth of 38 kilometres. (Photo by - / ISNA NEWS AGENCY / AFP)

epa08091491 A handout photo made available by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows an intensity shake map of a 5.1-magnitutde earthquake near Bushehr, Iran, 27 December 2019. The epicenter was recorded at a depth of 38 kilometers some 50 kilometer east of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. There were no immediate reports of damage to the nuclear plant. EPA-EFE/USGS / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

epa08091490 (FILE) - A general view of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran, 21 August 2010 (reissued 27 December 2019). A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit on 27 December around 50 kilometers east of Bushehr. There were no immediate reports of damage to the nuclear plant. EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran and Russia launch new phase in construction of second nuclear reactor

An Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. Photo: Agence France-Presse

A picture taken on November 10, 2019, shows workers on the construction site of a second reactor in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start the works at the facility. - Bushehr is Iran's only nuclear power station and is currently running on imported fuel from Russia that is closely monitored by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Iran marks 40 years since US embassy takeover with flag-burning rally

Iranians burn a US flag during an anti-US demonstration marking the 40th anniversary of the US embassy takeover in Tehran. Photo: EPA

With anti-American slogans and effigies mocking US President Donald Trump (L), thousands of Iranians rally outside the former US embassy in the capital Tehran, on November 4, 2019, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis. - On November 4, 1979, less than nine months after the toppling of Iran's American-backed shah, students overran the embassy complex to demand the United States hand over the ousted ruler after he was admitted to a US hospital. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

epa07971221 Iranian women take part in an anti-US demonstration marking the 40th anniversary of US Embassy takeover, in front of the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 04 November 2019. According to media reports, thousands of protesters chanting 'Death to America' gathered at the former US embassy in Tehran to mark the 40th anniversary of the start of the Iran hostage crisis. Iranian students occupied the embassy on 04 November 1979 after the USA granted permission to the late Iranian Shah to be hospitalized in the United States. Over 50 US diplomats and guards were held hostage by students for 444 days. Iran and US tension over 2015 nuclear deal is going on. EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iranian students attend an anti U.S. demonstration, marking the 40th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover, near the old U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran November 4, 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

epaselect epa07971215 An Iranian man wearing an effigy mask of US President Donald J. Trump takes part in an anti-US demonstration marking the 40th anniversary of US Embassy takeover, in front of the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 04 November 2019. According to media reports, thousands of protesters chanting 'Death to America' gathered at the former US embassy in Tehran to mark the 40th anniversary of the start of the Iran hostage crisis. Iranian students occupied the embassy on 04 November 1979 after the USA granted permission to the late Iranian Shah to be hospitalized in the United States. Over 50 US diplomats and guards were held hostage by students for 444 days. Iran and US tension over 2015 nuclear deal is going on. EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran protest death toll may exceed 1,000, US says as it applies new pressure on Tehran

Iranian protesters gather around a fire in Tehran in November during a demonstration against an increase in petrol prices. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 20, 2019 Shops that were destroyed during demonstrations against petrol price hikes, are pictured in Shahriar, west of Tehran. - The US said on December 5, 2019, that Iranian authorities may have killed more than 1,000 people in a crackdown on demonstrations, which Washington cast as the clerical regime's worst-ever internal challenge. "It appears the regime could have murdered over 1,000 Iranian citizens since the protests began," Brian Hook, the US pointman on Iran, told reporters. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 17, 2019 A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on November 17, 2019 shows him during speaking during a meeting with clerics at his Islamic Thoughts lecture in the capital Tehran. - Iran's supreme leader has agreed that people killed in nationwide unrest last month who had no role in fomenting it should be treated as "martyrs" with their families compensated. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was responding to a report on the protests made by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, his official website said on December 4, 2019. He ordered that its recommendations "be implemented as soon as possible". Demonstrations erupted in Iran on November 15 against a surprise hike in petrol prices by as much as 200 percent. (Photo by - / KHAMENEI.IR / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / KHAMENEI.IR" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIEN

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A 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Iran’s Bushehr plant, which was completed by Russia in 2013
Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbours have often raised concerns about the reliability of the facility and the risk of radioactive leaks in case of a major earthquake



Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbours have often raised concerns about the reliability of the Bushehr facility and the risk of radioactive leaks in case of a major earthquake.


Earthquakes

Natural disasters