Tehran, Iran – At least five people have been killed in two separate explosions in Iran, which local officials and state media say were caused by gas leaks. The incidents come at a time of heightened regional tensions, with renewed pressure on Tehran to strike a nuclear deal and a build-up of US forces in the Gulf.
Bandar Abbas Explosion
The first blast occurred at a residential building in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf coast. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, one person was killed and 14 others injured.
State TV reported that the explosion ripped through an eight-floor building, destroying two floors, several vehicles, and shops in the Moallem Boulevard area.
Local fire department chief Mohammad Amin Liaqat said a preliminary assessment indicated the blast was caused by a gas leak and “build-up.”
Regional official Mehrdad Hassanzadeh confirmed that the injured had been taken to hospital. Meanwhile, semi-official Tasnim news agency denied social media claims that a Revolutionary Guards Corps navy commander had been targeted in the blast.
Ahvaz Explosion
Hours later, a second explosion struck a residential building in the Kianshahr neighbourhood of Ahvaz, near the border with Iraq. The Tehran Times reported that four people were killed. Emergency officials rescued a child trapped beneath debris and transferred him for medical treatment.
International and Regional Context
The explosions come against the backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions. Speaking to journalists en route to Florida on Saturday night, US President Donald Trump said Iran was “seriously” negotiating with Washington but declined to reveal details.
“We’ll see if we can do something, we’ll see what happens… we have a big fleet heading out there,” Trump told Fox News earlier in the day.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that conflict was not in the interest of either country or the broader region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought and in no way seeks war,” he said during a call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to AFP.
Separately, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, met the Qatari prime minister in Tehran to review efforts to de-escalate tensions. Larijani also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, later writing on X that “structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing.”
Human Rights Concerns
The explosions also come amid ongoing unrest in Iran. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that more than 6,300 people have been killed since protests began in late December, with another 17,000 deaths under investigation.
Trump has warned Tehran that time is “running out” to reach a nuclear deal, insisting Iran must also “stop killing protesters” to avoid military action.
Conclusion
While Iranian officials attribute the deadly blasts in Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz to gas leaks, the incidents unfold against a backdrop of deepening political and security tensions. With negotiations reportedly underway and international calls for restraint, the explosions underscore the fragility of stability in Iran and the wider Gulf region.
