Following the blast at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port that left at least 281 injured, an Israeli security source noted that official denials of Israeli involvement are routine and should not be taken as confirmation or denial of any covert activities being conducted by their government.
Remarks were made following widespread speculation in regional and international media regarding possible acts of sabotage by Iran against Israel given their history of conflict. While Israeli officials publicly denied involvement, an anonymous senior Israeli source told local media outlets that denials are standard whenever sensitive operations are reported overseas.
“Israel maintains an official policy of denial over any sensitive security matters involving regional adversaries,” according to one source. “Official denials are common, regardless of what reality exists on the ground.”
Explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas caused widespread damage and injured hundreds. Though Iranian authorities initially claimed it was an industrial accident, analysts and media outlets speculated over potential acts of sabotage amid regional tensions.
Israel and Iran have long been engaged in an unseen struggle, often targeting each other through cyberattacks, maritime confrontations and covert operations. Ports and shipping lanes have often become focal points in this simmering conflict, raising suspicion after any major incident involving critical infrastructure.
Israeli officials have been keeping mum since the blast, adhering to Israel’s long-held policy of neither confirming nor denying involvement in operations abroad. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have publicly refrained from directly accusing Israel, preferring instead focusing on rescue and investigation efforts instead of accusing directly of their country’s role.
Security analysts caution against jumping to quick conclusions, noting that Iran’s ports store large amounts of fuel, chemicals and industrial materials that pose the risk of accidental explosions. Yet given Bandar Abbas’ strategic significance they acknowledge sabotage cannot be entirely discounted without an investigation taking place first.
As Iran assesses the damage and investigates what caused the blast, regional tensions remain elevated. Both Iran and Israel have exchanged accusations regarding attacks against ships, oil facilities, or other infrastructure with no official acknowledgment of responsibility from either side.
At present, Israeli sources’ remarks demonstrate a common trend in Middle Eastern geopolitics – when dealing with an environment marked by deep suspicion and covert rivalries, official statements can often leave more questions unanswered than they answer.