Five people have been killed in two separate explosions in Iran which local officials and state media say were caused by gas leaks. One person was killed and 14 injured in a blast at a residential building in the southern city of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf coast, a local official told Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency. Another explosion killed four people in the south-western city of Ahvaz, the state-run Tehran Times reported.
The incidents occur as tensions persist in the region following a build-up of US forces in the Gulf and pressure on Tehran from US President Donald Trump to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. In Bandar Abbas, an explosion ripped through an eight-storey building, destroying two floors, several vehicles, and shops in the Moallem Boulevard area. Local fire department chief Mohammad Amin Liaqat attributed the blast to a gas leak and build-up, stating a preliminary assessment suggested this cause.
In Ahvaz, emergency officials reported rescuing a child trapped beneath debris from the explosion. Amid these incidents, President Trump was asked about US actions regarding Iran, reiterating that Iran was negotiating seriously with Washington. He emphasized the hope for an acceptable agreement while noting the presence of a significant US maritime force in the region.
Iran officials have stated that conflict would not be in anyone's interest. As investigations proceed, further details are expected regarding the blasts and their causes.
The incidents occur as tensions persist in the region following a build-up of US forces in the Gulf and pressure on Tehran from US President Donald Trump to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. In Bandar Abbas, an explosion ripped through an eight-storey building, destroying two floors, several vehicles, and shops in the Moallem Boulevard area. Local fire department chief Mohammad Amin Liaqat attributed the blast to a gas leak and build-up, stating a preliminary assessment suggested this cause.
In Ahvaz, emergency officials reported rescuing a child trapped beneath debris from the explosion. Amid these incidents, President Trump was asked about US actions regarding Iran, reiterating that Iran was negotiating seriously with Washington. He emphasized the hope for an acceptable agreement while noting the presence of a significant US maritime force in the region.
Iran officials have stated that conflict would not be in anyone's interest. As investigations proceed, further details are expected regarding the blasts and their causes.
