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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian security forces on Sunday denied links to the loud explosion that rattled several provinces in western Iran overnight, media affiliated to them said in a tweet, as they noted that the bang was just a massive “thunder.”
Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions last night in several provinces including Kermanshah, Kurdistan and Hamadan. Almost 12 hours after the incident, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the loud explosion is not linked to the force’s activities in any way or shape.
“The explosions heard in west of the country have no connection to the activities of the security forces or anti-air defense systems,” informed sources said, according to Tasnim News Agency. “The real source of the sounds heard were the occurrence of lightning in west of the country.”
The authorities failed to say anything following the blasting sound, raising concerns, fear and questions among people.
A Twitter user emphasized the importance of authorities of informing the public of the happenings, while mockingly adding, “Maybe they themselves do not know what has happened.”
The Iranian authorities’ statement comes in response to an IRGC-affiliated reporter who urged them to brief the public of what happened, rather than keep silent.
Previously, the governor of Asadabad city in Hamadan province had ruled out that the blast was the sound of thunder.
"We had no explosions in the city," Saeed Kitabi told Fars News Agency of the IRGC. “This was ruled out,” he added, noting that they were investigating the causes of the loud blast.
The Khatam al-Anbia air defense command, which is responsible for planning and coordinating joint military operations within the Iranian forces, said that its systems did not carry out any tests and any news to the contrary is false, according to IRGC media outlets.
There were speculation that Israel may have targeted IRGC bases in western Iran.
“Israel knows better what is happening there,” another social media user said on Twitter.
A third user compared the authorities silence to the time Iran stayed quiet for three days, as 176 people were killed when an Ukranian airliner was shot down over Tehran following the US assassination of IRGC General Qassem Soleimani.
Flights were also cancelled in western Iran overnight but the authorities said that the cancellation was due to the bad weather.
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