Tehran: Multiple explosions were reported from the Lavan Island refinery and the Sirri Island in Iran on Wednesday, hours after a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced. This was reported by the country’s state-affiliated Mehr News Agency.
The cause of the blasts remains unknown, with no immediate claims of responsibility. No injuries or casualties have been reported till now in reports carried by Turkiye Today and Xinhua.
The Sirri Island, though not as large as Kharg – that was struck by US-Israeli air strikes on several occasions over the last few weeks – is a strategically vital Iranian oil export terminal located in the Persian Gulf. It is approximately 240 km southeast of Abu Dhabi and serves as a key hub for loading crude oil and condensate.
It functions as a secondary but important export point alongside the larger Kharg Island facility. Sirri Island has been part of Iran’s dispersed export strategy to mitigate risks. Any damage there could further strain Iran’s already disrupted oil exports amid the conflict.
“Several explosions” were heard across the island in the early morning hours, Mehr News reported. Local reports described loud blasts and visible smoke, though detailed information on damage, casualties, or targeted facilities has not yet been released. Iranian officials have not issued an official statement, and independent verification remains limited due to restricted access to the area.
The truce, which began taking effect on April 8, includes provisions for de-escalation and reopening of maritime routes critical for global energy supplies.
Ever since hostilities began on February 28, US and Israeli forces conducted multiple strikes on Iranian military targets on facilities on Kharg Island, which handles 90-94% of Iran’s crude exports. Facilities on the Qeshm, Hengam, and Tunb islands were also targeted. These operations focused on degrading military capabilities such as missile storage, radar sites, and naval assets while largely sparing core oil export terminals.
