Pete Hegseth Asserts Iran’s Request for Ceasefire: Live Coverage

An oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island was struck early this morning, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company confirmed. The incident occurred at 6:30 AM, causing significant concern amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to Iran’s state television, IRIB, this attack comes on the heels of missile and drone strikes targeting the Emirates and Kuwait, occurring just hours after the assault on the Lavan Island oil facilities. This escalation raises questions about the stability of the ceasefire agreement announced late Tuesday.

The oil company described the assault on the Lavan Oil Refinery as a “cowardly attack,” underscoring the severity of the breach despite the recent ceasefire declaration. Efforts to manage the aftermath are underway, with safety and firefighting teams actively working to extinguish the fire and secure the facility.

Fortunately, due to the swift evacuation of staff, the company has reported no casualties from the incident. This rapid response highlights the preparedness of the facility’s emergency protocols in the face of such threats.

‘Fortunately, with the timely evacuation of employees, no casualties have been reported so far.’

The Lavan refinery on the small Gulf island processes crude extracted from a nearby oilfield, which supplies Iran’s highest quality oil for export, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

It was Iran’s 10th biggest refinery in 2020, handling 60,000 barrels of crude a day on average, according to EIA figures.

Other Iranian islands in the Gulf were attacked during the war, notably the key oil export hub of Kharg, where military installations were hit twice by US airstrikes.