A powerful explosion that damaged a residential building in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday was caused by a gas leak, according to an initial assessment by local authorities. Iranian outlets say a gas leak led to the explosion in the port city of Bandar Abbas, a conclusion shared by the city’s fire department in early remarks.
State media earlier reported that at least one person was killed and 14 others were injured in the blast, which occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over recent nationwide protests and the country’s nuclear program.
Preliminary Findings from Fire Officials
“This gas leak and accumulation is our preliminary assessment,” said Mohammad Amin Liaqat, the head of Bandar Abbas’s fire department, in a video released by the semi-official Mehr News Agency. He added that further details would be shared after investigators completed additional checks in the coming hours.
Footage circulating on social media showed residents standing amid rubble, shattered glass, and severely damaged vehicles outside the affected building. The location was later confirmed by Reuters through analysis of surrounding landmarks and satellite imagery, though the exact date of the video could not be independently verified.
Separate Gas Explosion in Ahvaz
In a separate incident, four people were killed by another gas explosion in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, near the Iraqi border, according to the state-run Tehran Times. Officials did not immediately release further information about that blast.
Tensions and Rumors Amid Regional Pressure
The explosions have added to an already tense atmosphere in Iran, where relations with Washington have grown increasingly strained. Prior to news of the blasts, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused U.S., Israeli, and European leaders of exploiting Iran’s economic struggles to stir unrest.
Meanwhile, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency denied social media claims suggesting a Revolutionary Guard naval commander had been targeted in the Bandar Abbas explosion, calling such reports “completely false.”
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel had no involvement in the incidents. The Pentagon declined to comment, while U.S. President Donald Trump recently said an “armada” was heading toward Iran, with sources indicating Washington was weighing several options, including targeted strikes on Iranian security forces.
Strategic Importance of Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas is home to Iran’s most significant container port and sits along the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane between Iran and Oman that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil. The port was also the site of a massive explosion last April that killed dozens and injured more than 1,000 people. An official investigation later blamed that incident on failures to follow civil defense and security protocols.
Ongoing Unrest Across Iran
Iran continues to grapple with widespread protests that erupted in December over economic hardship, marking one of the most serious challenges to the country’s clerical leadership in years. The U.S.-based rights group HRANA has reported that at least 6,500 people were killed during the unrest, including hundreds of members of the security forces.
As authorities continue to investigate the latest explosions, officials have urged the public to avoid speculation and await verified findings, while emergency teams work to ensure the safety of affected neighborhoods.
