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2020 Iran explosions

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2020 Iran explosions
Date25 June 2020 (2020-06-25) — present
(4 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
LocationIran
CauseUnknown
Deaths21
Non-fatal injuries74

The 2020 Iran explosions are a series of explosions in Iran, with undetermined causes of origin. First being reported on 25 June 2020, the explosions' locations have ranged from nuclear enrichment facilities,[1] missile sites,[2][3][4] petrochemical centers,[5] power plants[6] and medical clinics.[7] Iranian government has denied reports of explosions in its missile sites while acknowledging damage to its largest nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz.[8][1]

Some Western and Iranian officials stated the cause of explosions to be Israeli cyber attacks and covert US and Israeli strikes.[9][10] A group calling itself the Homeland Panthers claimed responsibility for the explosion at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.[11] Iranian government vowed to retaliate if sabotage was confirmed in its Natanz nuclear facility.[12]

Timeline

Parchin explosion and Shiraz blackout

In the noon of 25 June 2020, an explosions hit in the Iranian military complex of Parchin, 30 kilometers southeast of the capital Tehran. Within the same hour a power outage affected half of the southern city of Shiraz; housing major military facilities. Iranian officials declared the explosion in Parchin to be gas storage accident. And said that an explosion had hit the power station in Shiraz causing the blackout.[13][8] Western analyst stated that the explosion in Parchin had occurred in a missile storage facility, with hidden nuclear detonation technology work.[2][14][3][4]

A western analyst claimed the explosion in Parchin to be caused by an Israeli cyberstrike.[15] While senior Iranian commander said he could not comment whether the explosion was a cyber attack until there was a conclusion on the issue.[16]

On 30 June 2020, American and Israeli officials speaking to The New York Times said they "had nothing to do with" the explosion in Parchin.[17]

Tehran clinic explosion

On 30 June 2020, an explosion occurred in the Sina At'har health center in the capital Tehran, killing 19 people including 15 women and 4 men. According to the deputy mayor of Tehran the explosion was caused by a leak from medical gas tanks in the building.[18][19]

On the same day a roadside bomb targeted two IRGC vehicles in southeastern Iran, wounding one Revolutionary Guard. According to an Iranian parliamentarian, Sunni militant group, Jaish ul-Adl took responsibility for the attack.[20]

Natanz nuclear enrichment facility explosion

Main article: Natanz incident

On 2 July 2020, an explosion hit Iran's largest nuclear enrichment facility in the city of Natanz.[1] Destroying most of the above ground parts of the facility with advanced centrifuges used for enriching uranium. Iran admitted serious damage to its facility while Western analysts said the explosion had set back the Iranian nuclear program one to two years.[1][21]

A group calling itself "Homeland Panthers" claimed responsibility for the explosion.[11] While Western and Iranian officials stated the cause of explosions to be Israeli cyber attacks and short of war, clandestine US and Israeli strikes.[9][10] Iranian government vowed to retaliate if sabotage was confirmed in the explosion.[12]

Khuzestan explosions

On 4 July 2020, an explosion hit the Shahid Medhaj Zargan power plant in the city of Ahvaz. Meanwhile 70 people were injured following a chlorine gas leak at Karun petrochemical center in the city of Mahshahr, near Ahvaz.[22][23]

Baqershahr explosion

On 7 July 2020, 2 people were killed and 3 others were injured following an explosion inside an oxygen factory in the town of Baqershahr, south of the capital Tehran. Iranian state news agency said "human error" was the cause of the blast.[24]

According to Western analysts the factory was near the Iranian warehouse where Israeli allegedly found a nuclear archive in 2018. While some analysts claimed that the factory belongs to an Iranian automotive manufacturer that closely cooperates with the Iranian Ministry of Defense as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[25]

Tehran explosions

On 9 July 2020, an explosion was reported in western Tehran. Iranian officials denied that an explosion took place but admitted that power had been cut off in the area.[26]

According to western analysts the blast hit a missile facility/warehouse belonging to Revolutionary Guards. While analysts speaking to The New York Times said that the blast had hit an area with underground facilities, associated with chemical weapons research and an unidentified military production site.[27][28]

On 11 July 2020, a gas explosion shook a residential building in Tehran, injuring one person.[29]

Mahshahr petrochemical plant explosion

On 12 July 2020, an explosion hit the Tondgooyan petrochemical plant in southwest Iran, Iranian officials said the explosion occurred due to hot weather.[30]

Mashad explosion

On 13 July 2020, an explosion hit an industrial complex near northeastern Iranian city of Mashad. Iranian state media said the explosion occurred when a gas condensate storage tank exploded, and that the police were investigating the cause.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Iran nuclear: Natanz fire caused 'significant' damage". BBC News. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Sanger, David E.; Bergman, Ronen; Fassihi, Farnaz (29 July 2020). "After Iranian Missile Facility Blows Up, Conspiracy Theories Abound in Tehran". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Iran Reports Explosion At Gas-Storage Tank Near Sensitive Military Site". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b Frantzman, Seth J. (28 June 2020). "Iran 'mystery' explosion may have been at a secret ballistic missile site". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Chlorine gas leak at plant sickens 70 in southeast Iran". CTV News. The Associated Press. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ^ Staff, Toi (4 July 2020). "Explosion reportedly damages power plant in Iran, the latest in series of blasts". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Gas explosion at Iran medical clinic kills 19". No. 1 July 2020. The Guardian. Associated Press. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Explosion at Iran gas storage facility, no casualties: State TV". 26 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz; Pérez-Peña, Richard; Bergman, Ronen (5 July 2020). "Iran Admits Serious Damage to Natanz Nuclear Site, Setting Back Program". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b Sanger, David E.; Schmitt, Eric; Bergman, Ronen (10 July 2020). "Long-Planned and Bigger Than Thought: Strike on Iran's Nuclear Program". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Mystery Group Claims Responsibility For 'Operation' Against Iran Nuclear Facility". Radio Farda. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b Teibel, Amy (13 July 2020). "Iran Vows Retaliation If Sabotage Confirmed at Nuclear Facility". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. ^ Kursun, Muhammet; Dursun, Ahmet (26 June 2020). "Massive explosion reported east of Iran's capital". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  14. ^ Erdbrink, Thomas; Sanger, David E. (21 September 2015). "Atomic Agency Defends How Iran Collected Evidence at Secret Base". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  15. ^ Bar, Neta (29 June 2020). "Was Israel behind Friday's mysterious blast near Tehran?". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  16. ^ "No conclusion on Parchin gas explosion's link with cyber-attack: Jalali". MEHR News. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  17. ^ "American, Israeli Officials Deny Sabotage of Iranian Missile Site, Report Says". Haaretz. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Explosion in Iran Kills 19, State TV Says". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  19. ^ "19 Killed in Gas Explosion at Clinic in Iranian Capital". Voice of America. Agence France-Presse. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  20. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak; Macfie, Nick (30 June 2020). "Roadside bomb targets Revolutionary Guards in southeast Iran, official says". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ^ Harel, Amos (8 July 2020). "Experts: Natanz Explosion Set Back Iran's Nuclear Program by More Than a Year". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Fire at power plant, chlorine leak at petrochemical plant in Iran". The Jerusalem post. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Chlorine gas leak at plant sickens 70 in southeast Iran". CTV News. The Associated Press. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Factory blast near Iran's capital kills two in latest explosion". Al Jazeera. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  25. ^ Joffre, Tzvi (8 July 2020). "Explosion near Iran's capital kills two, damages factory - IRNA". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  26. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (10 July 2020). "Explosion reported in west Tehran, denied by officials". Reuters. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  27. ^ "Iran state media says explosion heard in Tehran". Deutsche Welle. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  28. ^ Fasihi, Farnaz (9 July 2020). "Major Explosion Rocks Iran Again, the 3rd Blast in 3 Weeks". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Gas explosion shakes building in Iranian capital: fire department". Reuters. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  30. ^ Julian, Hana Levi (13 July 2020). "Explosion Causes Fire at Petrochemical Company in Southwestern Iran". Jewish Press. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  31. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (13 July 2020). "Explosion as fire breaks out at Iranian industrial complex". Reuters. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

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