United States Vice President JD Vance said Washington is investigating a deadly explosion at a wedding reception in southern Iran that left five people dead.
The blast, which occurred on Tuesday during a ceremony in the southern region of the country, was likely caused by a direct hit from American munitions rather than a deflection, according to expert analysis of verified video and imagery published by news agency Reuters.
The United States has not accepted responsibility for the strike. However, the American military announced that it was aware of the reports from Iranian authorities and emphasized that it never targets civilians.
Vance told reporters on Thursday that American officials were actively investigating the incident. He said the administration was investigating because it cared and wanted to know what took place, adding that when the American military makes mistakes, it learns from them to improve future operations, unlike Iran.
An American official speaking on condition of anonymity said the government was examining several potential scenarios. These include a direct strike by American forces, an Iranian air defence missile ricocheting, or an anti-aircraft missile straying off course during flight.
The United States Vice President serves as the second-highest executive officer in the federal government. Operating from Washington, the administration oversees global defense operations and military engagements across Western Asia and the Persian Gulf region.
Weapons Experts and Prior Military Investigations
Reuters submitted verified video and photographs of the blast damage to four military weapons experts. All four experts concluded that the structural destruction was consistent with a direct strike rather than secondary damage caused by ricocheting munitions.
Three of the experts estimated that the munitions likely originated from an American weapon system rather than a stray Iranian air defence missile. The fourth expert noted that an American weapon might have simply missed its intended target.
Reuters is an international news organization based in London that provides reporting and media coverage worldwide. The Pentagon, located in Arlington County, Virginia, acts as the headquarters for the Department of Defense and oversees American military inquiries.
The explosion at the wedding ceremony occurred approximately six months after a missile destroyed a primary school in Iran, an attack that killed 175 children and teachers.
Reuters previously reported that a preliminary internal investigation by the American military concluded US forces were likely responsible for the strike on the school. The Pentagon has not publicly released the final results of that inquiry.
Casualties and Funeral Services in Southern Iran
Iranian state television reported on Thursday that a 22-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in Tuesday's explosion, raising the total death toll to five. Iranian officials noted that nearly 70 other people were injured in the attack.
Funerals for four of the victims were held on Thursday. Images broadcast by the Iranian news outlet Mehr showed a pickup truck carrying a coffin draped in the Iranian flag beneath a canopy of palm leaves.
A reporter standing in front of the vehicle said the coffin held the body of four-year-old martyr Amir-Mohammad Karimi, who died in an attack by the American regime against the southern part of Iran.
Additional video footage from the funeral proceedings showed crowds throwing flower petals into the air while mournful music played through loudspeakers.
A local resident quoted by the Tasnim news agency said a strike on a military facility would not have been as painful, but an attack on a wedding reception had turned the community's joy into mourning.
Mehr News Agency and Tasnim News Agency are semi-official media outlets headquartered in Tehran, the capital of Iran. State broadcasting in Iran operates under national authority to cover public events and official statements across the country.
