BANDAR ABBAS, Iran, Jan 31 (Alliance News): At least one person was killed and 14 others injured in an explosion in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, local officials reported, though the cause of the blast remains unclear.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency dismissed social media claims that the explosion targeted a Revolutionary Guard navy commander, calling the reports “completely false.”
Iranian media said investigations into the blast are ongoing, but no further details have been released, and authorities could not be reached for comment.
In a separate incident, four people died following a gas explosion in Ahvaz, near the Iraqi border, according to the state-run Tehran Times. Details about the cause and circumstances of that blast remain scarce.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel was not involved in Saturday’s explosions. The incidents come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, as Iran faces nationwide protests over economic hardship and international scrutiny of its nuclear program.
On January 22, US President Donald Trump announced that a naval “armada” was heading toward Iran, with multiple sources indicating that Washington is weighing options including targeted strikes on Iranian security forces.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States, Israel, and European countries of exploiting Iran’s economic challenges to incite unrest, claiming foreign powers were providing means for citizens to “tear the nation apart.”
Bandar Abbas, situated on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, is home to Iran’s largest container port and handles about 20 percent of the world’s seaborne oil. The port suffered a major explosion last April, which killed dozens and injured over 1,000 people. Investigators attributed that blast to lapses in civil defense and security protocols.
Iran has been experiencing widespread protests since December over rising economic pressures, marking one of the most significant challenges to the government in recent years.
Official figures indicate that at least 5,000 people have been killed during the unrest, including around 500 security personnel.
The recent blasts in Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz add to concerns over the safety of critical infrastructure in Iran, particularly in strategic ports and energy facilities, while highlighting the tense geopolitical environment in the region.
