Explosions Were ‘Routine’ Demolition of Munitions

Following Israel’s attack on a Syrian munitions depot last week, western Tehran witnessed a number of massive explosions  which the security deputy at the Ministry of the Interior termed “routine” and added that officials had implemented plans to destroy obsolete munitions at the arms depot. His words conflicted with those of the spokesperson for the country’s Help and Rescue Organization who said that the explosions took place at a chemical plant.

Ali Abdollahi, the deputy minister of the interior for security told ISNA student news agency, “The explosions that took place last night in western Tehran were for the purpose of demoliting obsolete munitions.” A BBC report on the incident said three explosions took place at a missile depot and center in western Tehran.

Independent observers have questioned the “routine” explanation of the explosions since such practices are always carried out outside populated centers and towns.

These explosions come a week after reports indicated that Israel had destroyed a Syrian arms depot that housed missiles transferred there from the Islamic republic of Iran and which were intended for Lebanese Hizbullah, a para-military group supported by Iran. A senior official from Iran’s joint chief of staff denied these reports and said they were propaganda.

Four months ago reports were posted about  massive explosions at Iran’s underground Fardo nuclear site. Iranian officials immediately denied the reports.

The massive explosions at a missile site operated by the Revolutionary Guards in Malard about two years also were initially denied by military and government officials, but later Guards officials acknowledged the explosions at the ballistic missile site. Those explosions took the lives of 17 Guard personnel including general Tehrani Moghadam, considered to be the father of Iran’s missile program.

A year prior to the Malard base explosion, Imam Ali military base in Khoramabad was the scene of explosions. The base was reported to house long-range Shahab-3 missiles. Iranian officials attributed that incident to an accident as well.

Israel has said in the past that it had plans for damage Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.