Bandar Abbas: A powerful explosion struck an eight-story residential building in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring 14 others, state media reported. Rescue teams rushed to Moallem Boulevard around 2:10 PM local time, where the blast ripped apart two floors, damaged vehicles and nearby shops, and scattered debris across the area.
According tp reports, Iranian authorities, including Hormozgan province’s crisis management director Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, confirmed the incident and stated investigations are underway to determine the cause, with no immediate claims of responsibility. The semi-official Tasnim news agency dismissed social media rumours targeting a Revolutionary Guard navy commander as “completely false,” while firefighters and Red Crescent responders evacuated survivors and shifted the wounded to hospitals.
Bandar Abbas, Iran’s busiest port on the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint handling 20% of global seaborne oil — lies amid escalating Tehran-Washington tensions. The blast follows President Donald Trump’s Thursday announcement of an “armada” heading toward Iran and reports of contemplated targeted strikes on security forces.
Speculation swirls over sabotage linked to Iran’s nuclear programme or protest crackdowns, though officials probe industrial accidents akin to the 2025 Shahid Rajaee port fire. Visuals show the building’s facade exposed, underscoring the blast’s ferocity in a strategic hub vital for oil exports and trade.
