5 dead, 14 injured in multiple explosions across Iran; US and Israel deny involvement

New Delhi: Explosions have been reported in at least seven cities across Iran. According to various media reports, the blasts occurred on Saturday, 31 January 2026, in the capital Tehran, as well as in Parand, Tabriz, Qom, Ahvaz, Natanz, and Bandar Abbas.

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, at least five people were killed and 14 were injured in the explosions. However, the Iranian government has not yet confirmed these figures. According to a CNN report, a US official said the explosions were not related to any action by the US military. An Israeli official also stated that Israel had no connection to the incident.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim denied social media reports claiming that the commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s navy had been targeted.

Gas explosion in Ahvaz residential building

According to the state-run Tehran Times newspaper, a gas explosion in a residential building in Ahvaz killed four people. Meanwhile, an explosion in a building in Bandar Abbas caused two floors to collapse and destroyed several shops. A total of 14 people were injured in this blast.

Images shown on state television showed the front of the building completely blown off, with the interior clearly visible and debris scattered around. An official from the Bandar Abbas rescue department told the Iranian news agency IRNA that the injured were being taken to the hospital with the help of emergency services.

Explosions occur amidst protests, US military build up

The explosions occurred at a time when the situation in Iran is tense. Nationwide protests against the government began on December 28 and continue. An Iranian official told Reuters that at least 5,000 people have been killed in these protests, including 500 members of the security forces.

Meanwhile, the US recently deployed an aircraft carrier to the region amid rising tensions. Additionally, a US spy drone was recently spotted flying over the Persian Gulf.

Pezeshkian warns US, Israel

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the US, Israel, and European leaders are taking advantage of Iran’s economic problems and trying to incite unrest to provoke the people and divide the country.