Mashhad: The Public Relations Department of Khorasan Razavi Airports denied on Monday the circulating news of an explosion at Mashhad International Airport, stressing that what happened was a routine technical procedure.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the department clarified in a statement that “the smoke rising from the airport area resulted from a planned and controlled burning of dry grass on the edges of the runways, carried out in accordance with the international security regulations and standards adopted at airports.”

Video clips showed clouds of smoke rising from the airport area, sparking speculation on social media about a security incident.