The Explosions Iran Can't Explain: Israeli Sabotage or Gas Leaks?

Since June 2025, Iran has experienced a series of unexplained explosions, often attributed by Iranian authorities to accidents but suspected by others to be targeted attacks.

Key incidents include:

Tehran, Chitgar Towers (July 10-12, 2025): An explosion on the fourteenth floor of the Chitgar Towers, a residential complex housing senior Iranian military and judicial officials, injured seven people. Iranian officials claimed it was a gas cylinder explosion, but Israeli media speculated it was an assassination attempt, possibly linked to Israel’s strategy of targeting high-profile figures.

Pardisan, South of Qom (July 14, 2025): The explosion, which occurred on the first floor of the Naseem residential complex in Qom, shattered windows in nearby buildings and caused significant damage to the structure, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. Emergency services dispatched five ambulances to the scene, and Qom’s fire department chief confirmed that initial investigations suggest a gas leak as the cause. Yet, local residents and eyewitnesses have challenged this narrative, noting the absence of fire typically associated with gas explosions, a recurring discrepancy in similar incidents.

Tehran, Bahonar Street (June 15, 2025): CCTV footage captured two explosions in Tehran’s Tajrish district, with one possibly an off-target strike aimed at military command centers.

Lavizan, Tehran (June 20, 2025): Explosions in an area reportedly linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader raised concerns about targeted strikes.

Hamadan and Other Sites (June 30-July 1, 2025): Reports of explosions near military and missile facilities, including an IRGC missile base, fueled speculation of Israeli or U.S. operations.

These incidents follow a brief Israel-Iran war in June 2025, where Israel and the U.S. targeted Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing hundreds and damaging facilities like Fordo and Isfahan. Iranian retaliation included missile strikes on Israel and U.S. bases, complicating the regional security landscape.

The timing and locations of these incidents, often near strategic sites like Qom’s Fordo nuclear facility or military complexes. have intensified suspicions. Israel, which has a history of targeting Iranian nuclear scientists and infrastructure, has not officially claimed responsibility, but Defense Minister Israel Katz’s recent statement that Israel will “continue to hit Iranian targets despite the cease-fire” has added fuel to the speculation.

On X, users have mocked Iran’s gas leak explanations, with one post quipping, “They really need to check their gas pipes because these leaks are getting out of control.”

A spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, writing in Persian on social media, sarcastically remarked, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Islamic Republic fixed its gas pipes instead of sending millions to bankrupt terrorists in the region?”