Iran ‘rocked by multiple blasts killing at least four’ | World | News

Multiple explosions have been reported in Iran on Saturday, as tensions between the regime and the US remains high. Between 12.40pm and 1.30pm GMT, a series of unconfirmed reports emerged on social media in quick succession, claiming blasts had been heard in Karaj, Nowshahr, Hashtgerd, and Qeshm. Opposition-linked news outlet Iran International reported additional explosions in Tabriz, Saveh and Ardabil, but Iranian state media denied these reports. 

One confirmed explosion at a residential complex in the Kianshahr neighborhood in Ahvaz saw a family of four – a mother, father, and their two children – losing their lives, according to the Ahvaz Fire and Safety Services. Another blast happened at the southern port of Bandar Abbas, where an eight-storey building suffered serious damage to the first to third floors. One person, a four-year-old girl, died in the incident, and a further 14 were reportedly injured.

Harrowing pictures from the scene show the extent of the destruction, with debris seen on the ground. Several cars and other buildings in the area were also damaged, Persian Gulf Radio claimed.

The cause of these explosions is currently unknown.

Reports alleging a Revolutionary Guard Navy building had been targeted in the Bandar Abbas explosion have been sternly rejected as “completely false” by the force through the Tasnim news outlet, which is associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As reports of the multiple blasts emerged, a picture also started to be shared on social media and on Iran International purpotedly showing thick smoke rising from Parand, near Tehran. Reza Aqa’ali Khani, the administrative official of the Robat Karim area, was however quick to claim there was “no truth in the rumours regarding hearing the sound of explosions and seeing smoke in some areas of my cities of Parand and Robat Karim”.

The cause of the reported explosions across the country is currently unclear.

He has threatened US military intervention if Iran doesn’t come to the negotiating table to commit to never pursue nuclear weapons and pledges to stop the killing of protesters in the anti-regime demonstrations.

He told reporters on Friday: “We have a large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading toward Iran right now, even larger than what we had in Venezuela.

“Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”

Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian use.