Powerful explosion rocks building in Iran’s Bandar Abbas

A powerful explosion has occurred in a building in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, destroying two floors and damaging several vehicles and nearby shops.

According to Iranian state television, the blast took place in an eight-storey building on Moallem Boulevard, causing two floors to collapse completely and inflicting damage on vehicles parked nearby as well as adjacent businesses.

Rescue and fire brigade teams arrived at the scene immediately, and relief operations are ongoing. Injured individuals are being rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim dismissed reports claiming that the blast targeted a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy as false and unfounded. However, final details regarding the explosion have yet to emerge.

According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, Director General of Crisis Management for Hormozgan Province, said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the explosion, with all aspects of the incident being examined.

Bandar Abbas is located on the strategic Hormuz Strait, a vital waterway between Iran and Oman.

Roughly one-fifth of global maritime oil transport passes through this route, making the area of significant strategic importance.

Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated. Following stern statements from then-US President Donald Trump, American naval forces have also been deployed to the region.