TLTP
TEHRAN
A major explosion outside Tehran in the wee hours of Friday triggered speculation of an attack against an army base or a research site, but the Iranian military says it was an incident at a gas storage facility.
The blast did not take place at a military site, but in the “public area” nearby, defense ministry spokesman Davoud Abdi told state television, adding that the blaze was quickly brought under control and that there were no casualties.
According to a number of reports in state and semi-official media – citing both Abdi and the public relations manager of Tehran’s emergency management, Mir Shahabuddin Ghavami – no emergency services or ambulances were requested in the area following the blast.
For hours, details of the incident remained a mystery, fueling speculation and conspiracy theories, as Iranian TV reported only that the authorities were “investigating the bright light and loud sound” near Tehran.
Rumors initially suggested the explosion took place at a power station in Sarkh Hasar, east of Tehran, and that similar explosions had taken place in Shiraz, in southern Iran, prompting further speculation of a cyber-attack.
Others suggested an explosion at an ammunition depot in Paradis, citing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chatter on the messaging app Telegram.
New York Times journalist Farnaz Fassihi cited reports that the explosion occurred in Parchin, “a military base where Iran has conducted nuclear activity.”
Others have said the blast was at Khojir, not Parchin, pointing to a missile production and testing facility there as the possible culprit.
