ALBAWABA - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has refuted claims circulating about the assassination of its naval commander after an explosion in Bandar Abbas, a southern Iranian city, as reported by Iranian state media.
Iranian television reported that the blast happened in an eight-story building on Al-Moallem Street, leveling two floors and damaging multiple vehicles and nearby shops. Emergency and firefighting personnel responded promptly, but the cause of the explosion is still a mystery.
This denial arrives against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions, especially in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
On Friday, the United States cautioned Iran's Revolutionary Guard, declaring it wouldn't stand for "unsafe or unprofessional actions" in the waterway. This followed Tehran's announcement of two days of live-fire naval exercises in the region.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which manages American military activities in the Middle East, made it clear that it wouldn't tolerate actions that could lead to miscalculations or escalation. The statement pointed to specific examples, including Iranian fast boats heading toward US warships on a collision course and aircraft flying perilously close to American vessels.
CENTCOM further stated that unsafe behavior near US forces, regional allies, or commercial shipping jeopardizes stability and increases the chances of accidents and a broader conflict in this vital maritime corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for global energy, sees about a fifth of the world's oil flow through it each day. Consequently, any uptick in military maneuvers in the vicinity grabs the attention of international markets and regional governments.
Though Iranian officials claim the explosion wasn't a deliberate attack, the event has sparked conjecture, especially given the escalating military rhetoric between Tehran and Washington. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the blast is still under investigation.
