WANA (Jan 31) – In recent hours, the widespread circulation of rumors about explosions and security incidents in several Iranian cities — including Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Parand, Tabriz, and even buildings allegedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Hormozgan Province — has stirred tension across the media landscape and social networks.

 

In some cases, these rumors were quickly accompanied by claims of “targeted attacks” and “terrorist operations.” Within hours, however, Iranian official sources denied these claims one by one.

 

Bandar Abbas: Explosion in a Residential Building

In Bandar Abbas, a loud blast heard in several neighborhoods was initially interpreted as a security incident. However, the director general of crisis management at the Hormozgan Governorate stated that the sound was caused by an explosion inside a residential building on Moallem Boulevard.

 

According to reports, the explosion occurred in an eight-story building, causing severe damage to the first through third floors. Windows in nearby buildings were shattered, and more than ten vehicles parked near the site were damaged. Emergency and firefighting teams were immediately dispatched, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. Local authorities emphasized that the incident had no security-related nature.

Two Explosions in Southern Iran, Assassination Rumors Denied

Two Explosions in Southern Iran, Assassination Rumors Denied. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Ahvaz: Gas Explosion, Not a Security Incident

In Ahvaz, reports of an explosion sound quickly spread online and were accompanied by security-related speculation. Official sources clarified that the incident was caused by a gas explosion and showed no signs of sabotage or a security threat.

 

Parand: Fire in Reed Beds

In Parand and Robat Karim, rumors circulated about explosions and large plumes of smoke. The Robat Karim governor and local officials rejected these claims, explaining that the smoke resulted from a small fire in reed beds near the Shour River.

 

According to local authorities, such fires are not uncommon in the area and sometimes occur due to the activities of illegal hunters.

 

The prosecutor of Parand also denied any explosion and warned that spreading false security-related news could lead to legal consequences.

 

Tabriz: An Old Video, a New Rumor

In Tabriz, rumors of an explosion and fire were also reported. The head of public relations at the Tabriz Fire Department completely dismissed these claims, stating that no unusual incident had occurred in the city.

 

Investigations showed that videos circulating on social media dated back to the fourth day of the twelve-day war and Israel’s attacks on Iran, and had no connection to the current situation in Tabriz.

 

Claims of an Attack on an IRGC Facility and Assassination Rumors

At the same time, some social media channels and accounts claimed that a building affiliated with the IRGC Navy in Hormozgan Province had been targeted, and even raised rumors about the “assassination of the IRGC Navy commander.”

General Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy. Social Media / WANA News Agency

General Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy. Social Media / WANA News Agency

The IRGC Navy’s public relations office categorically denied these claims, stating that no attacks had taken place on its facilities, no buildings were damaged, and that the assassination rumor was “completely unfounded.”

 

Part of this wave of rumors has been attributed to an account known as “Terror Alarm,” a page reportedly linked to Israel, which has previously been associated with spreading false information and security-related disinformation.

 

Coinciding with reports of explosions, the account claimed the incidents were “targeted” and part of assassination operations — assertions that were swiftly rejected by Iranian officials.

 

Overall, what occurred was a series of non-security incidents — ranging from gas explosions and limited fires to the recirculation of old videos — which, in a sensitive climate, particularly amid recent military threats by Donald Trump regarding a possible attack on Iran, were quickly reframed through security and terrorism-related narratives.

 

Iranian officials have urged citizens and media outlets to rely solely on credible sources for news about incidents and to disregard social media rumors, which they say are less grounded in reality than they are part of psychological warfare and media operations.