According to Iranian media, the explosion occurred in an eight-story residential building in Bandar Abbas, destroying two floors completely and causing extensive damage to several vehicles and shops. Local fire brigades and rescue teams rushed to the scene and transferred the injured to hospitals.
Semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim denied social media rumors that Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, had been targeted in the blast, calling such reports “completely false.”
A few hours later, another explosion occurred in Ahvaz, in southwestern Khuzestan province, killing four people. Local media reported that the incident may have been caused by a gas cylinder explosion, although there has been no official confirmation or denial.
The Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz blasts occurred amid heightened regional tensions. The United States has signaled the possibility of major military action against Iran, and President Donald Trump recently stated that a U.S. “armada” is heading toward Iran. Iran has not attributed responsibility for the explosions to either the U.S. or Israel.
According to Reuters, two senior Israeli officials said Israel had no involvement in the blasts in Iran. The Pentagon also did not immediately comment.
Following the explosions, local media in Bandar Abbas released images showing the building’s charred walls and scattered debris, highlighting the intensity of the blast. The city’s fire chief confirmed that all residents of the building had been evacuated in time and that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The blasts come at a critical moment, as Iran’s ports and the Strait of Hormuz are crucial for global oil transportation. Last April, Bandar Abbas also suffered a major explosion that killed dozens and injured thousands.
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These recent explosions follow economic hardships and nationwide protests in Iran, which have led to thousands of deaths and injuries across the country. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also accused U.S., Israeli, and European leaders of exploiting Iran’s internal problems to create unrest within the country.
