An earthquake measuring 4.8 degrees on the open-ended Richter scale shook the eastern part of the northern province of Golestan late Sunday, IRNA reported from Gorgan.

Mazandaran province's seismological base affiliated to the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University said the quake, with its epicenter at 50 kilometers west of Gonbad-e Kavous in Golestan province, occurred at 11:38 p.m. local time (19:08 GMT).

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Iran is situated on some of the world's most active seismic faultlines and quakes of varying magnitudes are usual occurrences.

Since 1991, over 950 earthquakes have hit the country resulting in 17,600 deaths and 53,300 injuries.