According to reports from Iran Afshgar and Intelli Times, an explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in central Tehran. This incident coincided with an increase in drone and missile attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq on Sunday. The Pentagon has announced plans to bolster its military readiness in the region in response.
Further details reveal that the explosion took place at an IRGC combat-readiness and support center located on the outskirts of Damghan, in the central Iranian province of Semnan. The IRGC confirmed in a statement that the explosion, which occurred on May 2, was the result of “ammunition relocation.” This incident resulted in two IRGC personnel losing their lives and three others being injured.
The IRGC’s public-relations department further clarified that the injuries occurred while separating “ammunition waste” at the site. Iran has experienced several explosions at IRGC and military bases in recent years, with Tehran attributing some incidents to Israeli actions, while others have been ascribed to the disposal of old ammunition or concealed causes.
Notably, in June 2021, Iranian media reported an attempted drone attack on the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA) in Karaj, claiming it had been “neutralized.” However, satellite images from IntelLab and international media reports indicated significant damage to the Karaj facilities, later confirmed by Iran.
One of the most significant incidents in this series of explosions occurred in November 2011 at an IRGC missile base, resulting in the death of General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a key figure in the IRGC’s missile program.
These events underscore the ongoing tensions and shadow war between Iran and Israel, marked by heightened activities in recent years. Israel is suspected of being involved in the assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists over the past decade, raising concerns about the penetration of Iran’s security apparatus by foreign intelligence agencies.