A massive fire tore through a reported cold storage facility under construction in northwestern Iran, sending towering flames and thick smoke into the sky and prompting intense scrutiny amid the country’s ongoing unrest. State media confirmed the blaze on February 6, 2026, at a site along the Ardabil–Moghan road in Ardabil Province, but provided no official explanation for the cause.

Video footage circulating online shows the structure fully engulfed, with firefighters battling the inferno as it consumed large sections of the facility. Authorities have not reported casualties, nor have they detailed the contents of the site or the extent of the damage beyond confirming that the facility was still under construction.

The incident comes as Iran continues to experience widespread protests and instability following months of unrest. In that context, opposition-linked sources have advanced serious allegations, claiming the facility was used to store the bodies of protesters killed during the crackdown and that the fire may have destroyed evidence of regime abuses. These claims have not been independently verified, and Iranian officials have not addressed them.

Opposition groups estimate a nationwide death toll ranging from tens of thousands since late December 2025, figures that the government has rejected. The fire has intensified debate and suspicion among critics of the regime, who argue that opaque state practices and restricted access for international observers make independent verification difficult.

Iranian authorities have offered no indication of foul play and have not announced an investigation beyond standard fire response measures. As a result, the blaze has become another flashpoint in an already volatile environment, fueling competing narratives about accountability, transparency, and the true scale of violence during the unrest.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, its timing and location have ensured it will remain under close observation as events continue to unfold in Iran.