Amid tensions with the United States and the suppression of protests in Iran, a central market caught fire on Tuesday in northwestern Tehran in one of the largest urban fires the country has seen in recent years.
Firefighting forces told the Iranian news agency Tasnim that at least 200 stalls and shops were completely destroyed in a blaze in the upscale Janatabad neighborhood in the capital's northwestern part. No casualties were reported in the fire, and authorities are investigating its causes. Although outdated infrastructure and ongoing neglect of public spaces in Iran frequently lead to fires and disasters, the fact that the blaze occurred in a market raises suspicion that this was a deliberate act.
Video: A massive fire in Tehran. Credit: Social media
The markets in Tehran have served as the focal point for the protests that swept the country last month. In recent days, reports have been published from merchants in the markets stating that many of them have remained closed or their operations have been restricted by authorities and the Basij militia, and that the livelihoods of many merchants have been severely damaged as a result.
