Micah Jonah
January 31, 2026
At least one person has been confirmed dead while 14 others were injured following an explosion at the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, according to Iranian media reports.
A local official told Iranian news agencies that the blast occurred within the port area, the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown. Authorities said investigations were ongoing as of Saturday, with no further details released.
The semi official Tasnim news agency dismissed claims circulating on social media that the explosion was linked to an attack on a Revolutionary Guard navy commander, describing such reports as false.
Iranian officials were yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of reporting.
In a separate development, Iranian media reported that four people were killed in a gas explosion in the city of Ahvaz, close to the Iraqi border. Details surrounding that incident were also limited.
The explosion in Bandar Abbas comes at a time of heightened regional tension, with Iran facing pressure over its handling of nationwide protests and disputes surrounding its nuclear programme.
Bandar Abbas hosts Iran’s most important container port and is strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which a significant portion of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
The port has previously experienced a deadly explosion, with an incident last year killing dozens, injuring more than 1,000 people. An investigation at the time blamed lapses in safety and civil defence procedures.
Iran has in recent months witnessed widespread protests triggered by economic hardship, with authorities acknowledging thousands of deaths since the unrest began.
