The earthquake was located within the Zagros fold and thrust belt, part of the broad and complex zone of continental collisionbetween the Arabian and Eurasian Plates. At this location the relative convergence of the plates is about 26 mm per year.The convergence is quite oblique to the Zagros belt, although it is partitioned into orthogonal dip-slip motion within the active thrust belt and dextral (right lateral) strike-slip motion along the Main Recent Fault to the northeast of the Zagros Mountains. The earthquake occurred near the Iran–Iraq border, approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of Baghdad. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake measured 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale^[2]and was caused by movement on a thrust fault dipping at a shallow angle to the northeast. Aid to Iraq Turkey was the first country to offer aid through its Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, announcing that 92 rescue personnel were on standby, together with 4,000 tents and 7,000 blankets. European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc was ready to cooperate with Iran in providing emergency relief aid, and Italys government issued orders to send 12 tonnes of tents, blankets and mobile kitchens on 13 November. The International Committee of the Red Cross had arrived by 13 November. Sunni charities, such as the Iranian Call and Reform Organisation, were providing tents and water. Iranian minister of foreign affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his gratitude for all the sympathy and offers of assistance Iran has received, but declared that his country can manage the situation with its own resources for the time being. image courtesy-USGS ..... .... Login with Google and support us