Explosions in Iran Spread Jitters and Rumors Amid Anticipation of Attacks

An explosion at an apartment building in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, killed at least one person and injured 14, sparking panic amid heightened tensions. Iranian officials attributed the blast to a gas leak, but unconfirmed reports on social media suggested it was an assassination attempt targeting a Revolutionary Guards commander. The Guards denied the assassination claim, accusing Israeli intelligence of spreading misinformation. The incident occurred against a backdrop of escalating rhetoric between Iran and the United States, with recent threats from President Trump and Iran's vow to retaliate against any attacks. Reports of other explosions and fires across the country further fueled anxiety.

On January 31, 2026, an explosion occurred in a residential building in Bandar Abbas, Iran. According to the local fire chief, the likely cause was a gas leak and subsequent buildup. Residents were evacuated from the building located in the Moallem Boulevard area. While the exact number of casualties was initially unclear, reports indicated that at least one person was killed and 14 others were wounded. The explosion, which state television reported destroyed two floors of the eight-story building along with vehicles and shops, took place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across the country, raising concerns amid heightened tensions. In Bandar Abbas, a port city on the Persian Gulf, an explosion resulted in one death and 14 injuries, according to Tasnim news agency. Eyewitnesses also reported an explosion near Tehran. Separately, a gas explosion in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, killed four people, according to Nur News. While rumors circulated that the Bandar Abbas explosion was an attack targeting the IRGC Navy commander, Aliresa Tangsiri, the IRGC denied that its naval buildings were targeted. The cause of the Bandar Abbas explosion remains unclear.