At least one person was killed and 14 others were injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a residential and commercial building in the Moallem neighbourhood of Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday.
According to Iranian media, the blast occurred in an eight-storey building on Moallem Boulevard, destroying two floors and damaging nearby vehicles and shops. Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, Director General of Crisis Management in Hormozgan province, confirmed that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the explosion. Authorities have not yet released details about what triggered the incident.
State television footage showed extensive damage, with the building’s facade blown open and debris scattered across the area. Officials said emergency services remained on site for relief and safety operations.
Amid speculation on social media, the semi-official Tasnim news agency rejected claims that a commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy had been targeted, calling the reports “completely false.” Two Israeli officials also told international media that Israel was not involved in the incident.
The explosion occurred during heightened regional tensions following the deployment of a US aircraft carrier group to the region after strong statements from US President Donald Trump.
In a separate incident, Iranian media reported that four people were killed in a gas explosion in the city of Ahvaz, near the Iraqi border. Further details on that incident were not immediately available.
Authorities said investigations into both explosions are ongoing.
