Explosion Rocks Bandar Abbas: One Fatality, Regional Tensions Heighten
An explosion in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday resulted in one fatality and 14 injuries, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. State media attributed the incident to a gas leak.
The blast impacted an eight-story residential building on Moallem Boulevard, damaging two floors, several vehicles, and shops. The semi-official Mehr news agency, citing the local fire department chief, identified a gas leak as the cause.
An investigation into the explosion's cause was stated to be ongoing by Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, crisis management director for Hormozgan province.
Denials and Broader Context
Following online rumors, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied via Fars news agency that any of its naval facilities in the province were targeted. Separately, the Tehran Times reported a gas explosion in the city of Ahvaz, near the Iraqi border, caused four deaths.
Two Israeli officials informed Reuters that Israel was not involved in Saturday's explosions.
Regional Tensions and Geopolitical Backdrop
The Bandar Abbas explosion occurred one day prior to Iran's planned naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supply. The US military had previously issued warnings to Iran regarding potential threats to its warships or commercial traffic in the strait.
These events coincided with a sensitive period in US-Iran relations, marked by the deployment of a US aircraft carrier group to the region. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump reiterated calls for Iran to negotiate on its nuclear program.
Iranian Officials Respond
Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on X that "the formation of a structure for negotiations is underway" with Washington, despite media portrayals, without providing further details.
Earlier, Iranian army chief Amir Hatami warned the US and Israel against attacks, stating Iran's forces were prepared to respond and that any "mistake" would compromise the "enemy's" security. He affirmed that Iran's nuclear technology and expertise could not be eliminated.