Deadly explosions rock Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz amid heightened Iran-US-Israel tensions
World
Twin explosions in Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz kill five and injure 14 amid US and Israeli threats over the nuclear programme.
TEHRAN (Web Desk) – At least one person was killed and dozens of others injured in two separate explosions that rocked Iran on Saturday, raising concerns amid already heightened regional tensions.
The first explosion occurred in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, one of Iran’s busiest commercial hubs, while the second struck the southwestern city of Ahvaz.
The blast in Bandar Abbas took place in an eight-storey residential building, destroying two floors and causing significant damage to nearby shops and vehicles. Iranian officials confirmed one fatality and multiple injuries, though the precise cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Local media reported claims on social media suggesting a Revolutionary Guard navy commander had been targeted; however, Tasnim News Agency dismissed these reports as "completely false". Iranian authorities have not attributed the blast to any nation or group.
Bandar Abbas, situated on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, is home to Iran’s key container port handling about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil. The city suffered a major explosion last April that killed dozens and injured over 1,000 people, highlighting the port’s vulnerability.
In Ahvaz, a gas-related blast claimed four lives and injured 14 others. Iranian authorities described the incident as likely accidental, though investigations are ongoing. No further details were immediately available.
Iran-US-Israel tensions
The twin explosions come amid warnings from Israel and the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme. A major US naval force is conducting exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, with a missile-capable vessel anchored at Eilat.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that their country had no involvement in the blasts. They emphasised Israel is always alert to threats and prepared to respond to any aggression. The Pentagon has yet to comment, while US President Donald Trump recently warned of potential military action against Iran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused US, Israeli, and European leaders of exploiting Iran’s economic difficulties, inciting unrest, and providing tools for “tearing the nation apart”.
The country has faced nationwide protests since December over economic hardship, with an estimated 5,000 people killed, including 500 security personnel.
