The Israeli daily Maariv confirmed that nearly two weeks after the end of the Israeli-American war on Iran, new explosions were heard in the heart of the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Thursday, with speculation that it may have been an assassination targeting a high-profile figure.
Reuters reported that a gas cylinder explosion occurred in Tehran, with initial reports indicating that dozens of people were injured.
The head of Tehran’s Fire Department stated that seven people were injured in an explosion on the fourteenth floor of the Chitgar Towers, a residential complex known to house senior Iranian military and judicial officials. The official explanation for the incident remains “a gas cylinder explosion.”
The Israeli paper noted that “since the end of the war, multiple explosions have been recorded at various sites, but Iranian authorities have denied any security-related incident. So far, they continue to insist it was a gas cylinder explosion. However, given that the building accommodates top officials, it is likely this was no coincidence.”
It added that “for example, just five days after the operation ended, a massive explosion took place at a refinery in the city of Tabriz, northwest of Tehran. A local crisis management official stated that the explosions occurred while dismantling and defusing unexploded Israeli bombs in the area, and plumes of smoke were seen rising from the refinery after the blast.”
In stark contrast to local authorities’ statements, representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) told the media that the explosion occurred during the replacement of a nitrogen tank at the refinery.
On 13 June, Israel, backed by the United States, launched an offensive against Iran that lasted for twelve days, targeting military and nuclear sites, civilian facilities, and assassinating senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
In response, Iran struck Israeli military and intelligence headquarters with ballistic missiles and drones in various Israeli cities.
On 22 June, the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming they had “neutralised” them. Tehran retaliated by bombing the American Al Udeid base in Qatar. Two days later, Washington announced a ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran.
