The 2020 Iran explosions are a series of explosions in Iran, with undetermined causes of origin. First reported on 25 June 2020, the explosions' locations included nuclear enrichment facilities, missile sites, petrochemical centers, power plants and medical clinics. The government has denied reports of explosions in its missile sites while acknowledging damage to its largest nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. Some Western and Iranian officials stated the cause of explosions to be Israeli cyber attacks and covert US and Israeli strikes. A group calling itself the "Homeland Panthers" claimed responsibility for the explosion at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. The government vowed to retaliate if sabotage was confirmed in its Natanz nuclear facility.
At noon on 25 June 2020, an explosion hit in the military complex of Parchin, 30 kilometers southeast of the capital Tehran. Within the same hour a power outage affected half of the southern city of Shiraz; housing major military facilities. Officials declared the explosion a gas storage accident and said that an explosion had hit the power station in Shiraz, causing the blackout. Western analyst stated that the explosion in Parchin had occurred in a missile storage facility, with hidden nuclear detonation technology work. A Western analyst claimed the explosion in Parchin was caused by an Israeli cyberattack, while a senior Iranian commander said he could not comment whether the explosion was a cyberattack until there was a conclusion on the issue. Citing an unnamed senior source, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported that the facility was destroyed in an airstrike by Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets. On 30 June 2020, American and Israeli officials speaking to The New York Times said they "had nothing to do with" the explosion in Parchin.
Tehran clinic explosion
On 30 June 2020, an explosion occurred in the Sina At'har health center in the capital Tehran, killing 19 people including 15 women and 4 men. According to the deputy mayor of Tehran the explosion was caused by a leak from medical gas tanks in the building.
On 2 July 2020, an explosion hit Iran's largest nuclear enrichment facility in the city of Natanz. Most of the above-ground parts of the facility with advanced centrifuges used for enriching uranium were destroyed. Iran admitted serious damage to its facility while Western analysts said the explosion had set back the Iranian nuclear program one to two years. Israel was widely reported to have been behind the blast. The New York Times claimed that a source which it identified as a "Middle Eastern intelligence official with knowledge of the episode" told the newspaper that Israel was responsible for the attack, and that a powerful bomb had been used. In addition, it cited an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps member who was briefed on the topic and had spoken to the newspaper anonymously as claiming that an explosive device was used. The New York Times later reported that officials with knowledge of the blast had told it that it was most likely the result of a bomb planted at the facility, possibly at a strategic gas line, but that it was not out of the question that a cyberattack was used to cause the explosion. The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported that Israel had caused the explosion with a cyberattack.
Khuzestan explosions
On 4 July 2020, an explosion hit the Shahid Medhaj Zargan power plant in the city of Ahvaz. Meanwhile 70 people were injured following a chlorine gas leak at Karun petrochemical center in the city of Mahshahr, near Ahvaz.
On 7 July 2020, 2 people were killed and 3 others were injured following an explosion inside an oxygen factory in the town of Baqershahr, south of the capital Tehran. IRIB said "human error" was the cause of the blast. According to Western analysts the factory was near the warehouse where an archive of information on Iran's nuclear program was stolen in a raid by Israeli intelligence agents in 2018. While some analysts claimed that the factory belongs to an Iranian automotive manufacturer that closely cooperates with the Iranian Ministry of Defense as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Tehran explosions
On 9 July 2020, an explosion was reported in western Tehran. Officials denied that an explosion took place but admitted that power had been cut off in the area. According to western analysts the blast hit a missile facility/warehouse belonging to Revolutionary Guards. Analysts speaking to The New York Times said that the blast had hit an area with underground facilities, associated with chemical weapons research and an unidentified military production site. An intelligence official told The New York Times that Israel was possibly behind the explosion. On 11 July 2020, a gas explosion shook a residential building in Tehran, injuring one person.
Mahshahr petrochemical plant explosion
On 12 July 2020, an explosion hit the Tondgooyan petrochemical plant in the southwest. Officials said the explosion occurred due to hot weather.
On 13 July 2020, an explosion hit an industrial complex near the northeastern city of Mashad. Mehr News Agency said the explosion occurred when a gas condensate storage tank exploded, and that the police were investigating the cause.
Ahvaz pipeline explosion
On 18 July 2020, an explosion was reported in an oil pipeline in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.
Isfahan power plant explosion
On 19 July 2020, an explosion hit a power plant in Isfahan Province, no one was injured.
Alleged Israeli aims
According to one report, citing an unnamed former Israeli official and a European Union intelligence official, Israel is behind some of the attacks, with the European source "fearing" that the goal of the Israeli government to provoke a confrontation with Iran. According to these sources, it is widely believed that U.S. President Trump will lose the election in November and that a Biden administration would not support Israeli military operations as the Trump White House has.
