Iran: Blast at Tabriz refinery; state media say Nitrogen tank exploded
A blast and smoke rising at Iran's Tabriz refinery were caused by the explosion of a nitrogen tank, Iranian state media said on Sunday.
There were no casualties in the incident and the refinery continues to operate normally, the report added.
Located in northwestern Iran, the Tabriz refinery is one of the country's major oil processing plants, with a capacity of around 110,000 barrels per day, supplying fuel and petrochemical feedstock to several provinces.
Iran has been involved in a 12-day conflict with Israel earlier this month after the latter launched attacks on the Islamic Republic with the aim of destroying its nuclear programme, which Tehran says is purely peaceful.
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Western media enabling Gaza genocide and rewriting history, say experts
As Israel's war on Gaza intensifies and expands across the Middle East, media analysts and human rights advocates are raising concerns over the lack of international accountability and the role of Western news outlets in shaping public perception of the conflict. At a panel hosted by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) in London on Saturday, experts accused mainstream Western media of contributing to the denial and distortion of atrocities unfolding in Gaza. The Centre for Media Monitoring (CFMM) presented findings highlighting how often leading media organisations downplay or dismiss claims of genocide. Faisal Hanif, a media analyst at CFMM, said the BBC had shut down references to genocide in its Gaza coverage more than 100 times over the past year. Omar al-Ghazzi, Associate Professor of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, called the trend 'a war on history.' He warned that the use of media narratives as future historical sources could shape how upcoming generations understand the events in Gaza. The panel also pointed to specific language patterns in coverage. Hanif noted that the term 'massacre' appeared 18 times more often when referring to Hamas attacks than to Israeli attacks on Palestinians. He said this imbalance reflected a wider rhetorical bias and an uncritical acceptance of Israeli government claims—particularly those targeting local journalists in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters British-Israeli journalist Rachel Shabi said Israel has consistently framed its ban on international reporters entering Gaza as a safety measure, while accusing Palestinian journalists of links to Hamas. She criticised international media outlets for accepting these narratives without challenge. 'Israeli society has taken a genocidal turn,' says Daniel Levy. Speaking at the Genocide in Gaza conference in London, he warns that Israel's war on Gaza marks a new phase of settler colonial overreach, backed by Western complicity. — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 29, 2025 'They fall for the trap without calling it out,' Shabi told the audience. She added that even when Palestinian voices are included, their suffering is often discredited or doubted. 'The media has not only excluded Palestinian voices conveyed through local journalists' reports, but, at times when it has included them, it has effectively put Palestinian victims 'on trial,' portraying them as unreliable narrators of their own stories and suffering.' 'A new dark age' Historian Avi Shlaim described Israel's media strategy as an aggressive propaganda campaign designed to suppress criticism by labelling opponents as antisemitic. Professor Martin Shaw, a leading scholar on war and genocide, said such tactics amounted to a third form of genocide denial—'implicatory denial'—where actors acknowledge atrocities but take no meaningful action. 'The media is starting to shift, but it still lags behind the reality,' Shaw said. 'Even when governments and media recognise genocide is taking place in Gaza, they don't act to stop it.' He argued that the era of rhetorical devices such as 'responsibility to protect' and 'humanitarian intervention' had ended. 'The powerful do what they want without dressing it up,' he added. Al-Ghazzi agreed, saying the West continues to control language and historical narrative, positioning itself as the sole 'moral arbitrator.' 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He cited Israel's strikes on Iran as an example of escalating risk, arguing they push the Middle East towards either a nuclear-free zone or widespread nuclear deterrence. Broad disillusionment in Israel Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, questioned the viability of Israel's long-term strategy, suggesting it may be driving the country toward collapse. 'Is this the third Jewish kingdom?' he asked. Channel 4 to show Gaza war crimes documentary rejected by BBC Read More » Speakers warned that Israel's actions were eroding the foundations of the international legal system. Tayab Ali, director of the ICJP, said international legal frameworks remain 'excellent in theory' but are selectively applied in practice. 'This selectivity reinforces Israel's belief that its rights will be protected—even in the face of violations targeting Palestinians,' Ali said. 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Gulf Today
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- Gulf Today
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This has been jeopardised by Israel's war on Iran and US military and political intervention.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Iran voices truce doubts as UN watchdog issues nuclear warning
Iran warned the Middle East that the threat of war have not yet passed, and expressed 'serious doubts' over whether a ceasefire with Israel will hold. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Sunday spoke to Iran's army chief Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi in a push for 'security and stability', the Saudi Press Agency said. According to Iranian state media, Maj Gen Mousavi voiced 'serious doubts about the enemy's commitment to its obligations, including the ceasefire'. He said Iran's armed forces are prepared to deliver a firm response "if aggression is repeated.' The head of the UN's nuclear inspections agency, Rafael Grossi, said Iran could resume enriching uranium 'in a matter of months'. He warned in a CBS News interview broadcast on Sunday that 'one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there'. Israel mounted a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, killing senior commanders and firing missiles at military and government sites. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones, before the conflict culminated in a US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran's attack on Al Udeid, an American airbase in Qatar. A ceasefire has held since then. In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on the UN Security Council to declare Israel and US as 'initiators of the act of aggression', making them liable for compensation. He called the war a 'brazen assault on the very foundations of international law'. The US holds veto power on the council, making any such resolution unlikely. President Donald Trump has defended the unprecedented bombing of Iran as a decisive blow against its alleged nuclear weapons programme, although there are doubts over how much damage was caused. Iran denies it is developing an atomic weapon, but talks with the US on limiting its nuclear activities had failed to produce a deal before Israel took military action. The UAE has urged Iran to restore trust with Gulf states after last week's attack on Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, said on Saturday that Gulf states 'took a strong and influential stand against the Israeli war on Iran' and had sought to de-escalate tension. 'Despite this, Iran targeted the sovereignty of the sisterly state of Qatar, a targeting that affects us all,' he said. 'Today, as we turn the page on the war, Tehran remains called upon to restore trust with its Gulf neighbours, which was damaged by this aggression.' A ceasefire in Gaza, meanwhile, remains elusive. Nine children were among 20 Palestinians reported dead when an air strike hit a group of people near a school on Saturday night. Mr Trump urged negotiators to 'make the deal in Gaza' in a social media post early on Sunday. The US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to broker a truce since an earlier arrangement collapsed in mid-March. Israel blockaded aid to Gaza for more than two months, worsening a humanitarian crisis. Aid deliveries via the privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have been marred by chaotic scenes and allegations of killings. The foundation on Sunday denied claims by Gaza authorities that opioid pills were found in bags of flour delivered to Palestinians.
