According to local media and social media posts, explosions were heard in several western Iran cities. The cause of the blast, however, was not immediately known.
In the wake of similar incidents in recent months, the country’s authorities say Iran’s military has conducted unannounced air defence exercises amid growing tensions with Israel and the United States.
The governor of the city of Assadabad told Fars News, the country’s semi-official news agency, that the source of the blast was not immediately clear. Due to the weather conditions, it was initially thought to be the sound of thunder. But that possibility has been ruled out.
Local media outlet Rokna News told their telegram channel that the noise level in some areas was so high that doors and windows were shaking and people had fled their homes in fear.
A video tweeted on social media shows multiple explosions from anti-aircraft weapons. However, the British news agency Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video footage.
Iran’s tensions with its arch-enemy Israel are mounting as Washington holds indirect talks with Tehran over reviving Iran’s nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015.
Israel has threatened to take military action against Iran if its diplomatic efforts fail to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.
