Iran state media reports fatal explosion in Gulf coast port city Bandar Abbas
Amid presence of US aircraft carrier group, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denies it was targeted, while media later blames gas leak
Several explosions were reported across Iran on Saturday, amid growing fears of war.
In the Persian Gulf city of Bandar Abbas, one person was killed and 14 others injured in an explosion, according to the news agency Tasnim, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Eyewitnesses also reported at least one explosion near the capital, Tehran.
In southwestern Iran, the online outlet Nur News said, citing the fire chief in the city of Ahvaz, a gas explosion there killed four people.
Tasnim reports rejected rumours that the explosion in Bandar Abbas - home to Iran’s most important container port - was an attempted attack on the commander of the IRGC Navy, Aliresa Tangsiri.
The IRGC denied that buildings belonging to its naval forces were targeted, according to a statement carried by the Fars news agency.