Flames and smoke rise from the shopping centre in Tehran on Tuesday. Photo: social media via Reuters

Deadly fire at Tehran mall

· Otago Daily Times Online News

At least eight people have died and 36 are injured after a fire broke out in a shopping centre west of Tehran, Irani's state broadcaster IRIB is reporting. 

The local fire department said the cladding of the building was flammable and this contributed to a rapid spread of flames, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported.

Iranian media, including Mizan, showed video of a plume of heavy smoke rising from the site on Tuesday. 

Reuters was able to verify the location by the buildings, utility poles, trees and road layout that matched archive and satellite imagery of the area.

The fire broke out as a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States comes under renewed pressure following an exchange of fire between the two sides on Monday.