The 1641 Tabriz earthquake occurred on the night of 5 February in present-day East Azerbaijan province, Iran.

[2] Iran is situated on an active convergent boundary zone where the Arabian and Eurasian plates collide.

The convergence occurs along the Zagros Mountains where it is accommodated by an active fold and thrust belt.

The oblique convergence results in continental collision beneath the Caucasus and right-lateral strike-slip tectonics around Tabriz.

The fault is located at the western base of Sahand, a volcano, where a measured offset of 200 m (660 ft) was recorded.

[5] Researchers Nicholas Ambraseys and Charles P. Melville reported that the earthquake occurred on a Friday night.