Iran’s northern and western regions were jolted by a ”relatively strong” earthquake on Friday, state television said, sending many people in Tehran scurrying into the streets.
The quake struck at 5.10pm local time, the report said, without giving its magnitude or epicentre.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Iran is on some of the world’s most active seismic fault lines and quakes of varying magnitudes are common.
Tehranis are especially worried since experts have said that a strong earthquake in the teeming capital could kill up to a million people. They cite the city’s congestion, the chaotic urban layout and shoddy construction of many buildings.
On December 26, the southeastern city of Bam was struck by a huge quake measuring 6,7 on the Richter scale, killing an estimated 26 000 people.
During the 20th century, about 20 big quakes hit Iran, leaving more than 140 000 dead. — Sapa-AFP