KUHESTAK: Residents of Kuhestak in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province are mourning after a strike hit a wedding celebration, killing at least four people, including a child, and injuring more than 60, according to local authorities.
The explosion struck at around 9:30pm on September 1 as relatives and friends gathered for a henna ceremony. Videos shared afterwards showed damaged buildings, rubble, wedding decorations and bloodied shoes scattered across the site.
Iranian state media and residents interviewed by the Guardian said the house belonged to local fisherman Ali Mallahi, who was celebrating his daughter’s wedding.
Residents Describe Widespread Grief and Damage
Witnesses said many guests had not yet arrived when the explosion occurred, potentially preventing a higher casualty toll. However, residents said surrounding homes also suffered damage.
Among those killed were four-year-old Amir Mohammad Karimi and 16-year-old Mohammad Mallahi, who was reportedly struck by shrapnel while riding his motorcycle nearby. Asiyeh Molainejad, 22, another relative of the bride, was later declared dead.
Moreover, at least six injured people remained in serious condition at a hospital in Minab, according to a Baloch human rights activist.
US Vice-President Responds to Questions Over Strike
Asked about the incident, US Vice-President JD Vance said Washington would never deliberately target civilians but added that “sometimes things happen.” He also expressed scepticism about Iranian accounts of the casualties.
Meanwhile, Baloch activists said internet restrictions and concerns about speaking with foreign organisations had complicated efforts to document the incident.
Residents said the deaths had deepened anger and reinforced fears that civilians along Iran’s Makran coast were increasingly being caught in a conflict beyond their control.
