A moderate earthquake shook parts of central and northern Iran on Friday, with tremors felt across Semnan province amid rising regional tensions due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located about 37 kilometers southwest of Semnan city, near the sparsely populated Surkha region.
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However, local Iranian sources reported slightly different figures: Tasnim News Agency cited the magnitude as 5.2, while Fars News Agency claimed it reached 5.5.
No casualties or major damage have been reported so far, though authorities continue to monitor and assess the affected areas.
The tremor occurred during a period of heightened tension in Iran, as Israeli airstrikes persist against alleged military and intelligence sites. Despite the timing, experts have confirmed that the earthquake was a natural event and unrelated to the ongoing conflict.
