Smoke and possible flames were seen rising from Iran’s Iranian Aluminium Company (IRALCO) plant in Arak on Tuesday, October 20, after footage circulating online triggered reports of a possible explosion at the industrial facility. The incident drew attention to Line 6 of the plant, a production area where reports indicated that an industrial disruption had occurred. However, Arak Governor Abdoreza Hajialibeigi rejected claims that an explosion had taken place, insisting that the visible smoke and steam resulted from a technical problem. According to the governor, the incident was linked to an electrical fault and voltage fluctuations rather than an explosion or act of sabotage. Iranian state media reported no casualties or security-related problems connected to the incident. The conflicting descriptions have left questions about the precise cause of the disruption, although officials have presented it as a technical issue rather than a security incident.

Additional reports indicated that approximately 60 smelting pots had gone offline, raising questions about the potential impact on production at one of Iran’s major aluminum facilities. Possible contributing factors cited in reports included electricity shortages, reduced electrical current and shortages of anode materials used in aluminum smelting, but the exact cause of the incident has not been independently established. Industrial operations of this kind depend on stable electricity supplies and tightly controlled production conditions, making electrical disruptions potentially costly and technically challenging to resolve. The reported smoke and vapor also raised concerns about emissions from the facility, although the available information does not establish the nature or extent of any environmental impact. No confirmed evidence presented in the statement establishes that the incident resulted from an attack, deliberate sabotage or an explosion. Further technical details would be needed to determine the extent of the damage, the reason production equipment went offline and how quickly normal operations could resume.