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 southwest city of Ahvaz, as reported by the state-run Tehran Times.
In Bandar Abbas, the explosion ripped through an eight-floor building, destroying two floors, and causing damage to several vehicles and shops in the Moallem Boulevard area.
Local authorities indicated that a gas leak and build-up were the preliminary causes of the blast, with fire department chief Mohammad Amin Liaqat confirming ongoing investigations.
The explosions occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, partially attributed to the accumulation of US military forces in the Gulf and pressures from President Donald Trump regarding Iran's nuclear program.
In the second incident in Ahvaz, emergency officials rescued a child trapped under debris, transferring him for medical treatment.
The Iranian government has firmly denied accusations of seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear ambitions are peaceful in nature. The nation’s foreign minister reiterated Iran's stance on missile defense and expressed openness to bilateral negotiations with the US, contingent upon mutual trust and respect.
