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By Mandy Taheri and Peter Aitken
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Two separate blasts have killed at least five people and injured over a dozen others in two cities in Iran on Saturday, multiple outlets have reported.
Four people were killed in a gas explosion in Ahvaz, state-run Tehran Times said per Reuters, and a local fire official said the explosion in Bandar Abbas may have been triggered by a gas leak, according to Sky News and France 24.
Why It Matters
One of the explosions occurred in the port of Bandar Abbas, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maintains a large naval base. The area is strategically important because it sits near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes for global energy supplies.
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Another explosion occurred in the city of Ahvaz, a major industrial center near the border with Iraq.
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What To Know
Semi-official state news agency Tasnim noted there were reports of a "massive explosion in a residential area of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran." The outlet said the explosion took place in an eight-story building in a residential area, destroying two floors and damaging several vehicles.
"The initial cause of the building accident in Bandar Abbas was a gas leak and buildup, leading to an explosion. This is the initial theory,” Mohammad Amin Lyaghat said on state television, per the AFP.
A 4-year-old girl died in the explosion and over a dozen were hospitalized, according to Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, director general of crisis management for Hormozgan province, the AFP reported.
Videos from the aftermath on social media show widespread rubble and damage to infrastructure.
The IRGC denied that the explosion was part of any targeted attack on Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, with Tasnim reporting that rumors of the commander's assassination are "completely fabricated."
In Ahvaz, Tehran Times shared a video of emergency forces rescuing a child trapped under the debris.
What Happens Next
Investigations into both explosions are ongoing.
IRGC Navy exercises will take place in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to Tehran Times.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “a massive Armada is heading to Iran." He noted that the fleet is "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary." His comments come after weeks of unrest in Iran, where rights groups and activists have reported thousands of protestors have been killed by the government's violent crackdown.
Updated 1/31/26, 1:06 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Updated 1/31/26, 12:16 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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