Israel and US Deny Involvement in Deadly Iran Explosions

A powerful explosion struck a building in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, according to state media. Bandar Abbas is a strategically vital port at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes—and serves as a key base for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The blast killed a four-year-old girl; no official cause has been confirmed. Iranian state-aligned Fars News Agency denied rumors circulating online about the death of IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri. Crisis management officials in Hormozgan Province have launched an investigation. Social media footage shows severe damage to the building’s façade. Unverified reports claimed coordinated explosions occurred across at least seven Iranian cities—including Tehran, Tabriz, Qeshm, and Ardabil—within hours. Neither Israel nor the U.S. has issued an official statement. U.S. officials told CNN the incident is unrelated to American operations. Tensions have escalated recently following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings of possible military action against Iran. Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership released images of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praying publicly to counter claims he was hiding underground amid fears of imminent U.S. strikes.