DEVELOPING: Conflicting stories given for Iran blast

[jswordy]

The Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran Feb 16, 2005 — An explosion was reported Wednesday in southern Iran near a nuclear power plant, with state-run media offering conflicting explanations for what happened, from blasting for dam construction, a fuel tank dropping from an Iranian plane, and friendly fire.
The explosion came as Iran's intelligence chief accused the United States of flying spy drones over its nuclear sites and threatened to shoot down the aircraft. But a spokesman for Iran's Interior Ministry said the blast was heard minutes after an Iranian airplane flew over the southwestern port town of Deylam, about 110 miles north of the nuclear plant, and had not been caused by a hostile attack.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=505340

[MAlibdem]

1. Iran: Blast came during dam job

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6979561/

TEHRAN, Iran - An explosion in south Iran, initially reported as caused by a missile, was blasting work during the construction of a dam, a senior military officer confirmed to state television on Wednesday.

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“What happened was only a natural part of building work. These were heavy blasts carried out for the construction of the dam,” said Ali Reza Afshar, deputy to the chief of staff of the armed forces.

Rescue teams were sent to the area, state-run al-Alam television said, without providing details on casualties.

Al-Alam caused the initial alarm when it reported the explosion was caused by an unidentified aircraft firing a missile in a deserted area.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Can't blame them for being jumpy...

...given the recent rhetoric by Condi Rice.

[davhill]

3. I am surprised

That they are not saving blasting materials for making IEDs to use after the US invasion.

[DrWeird]

6. I'm willing to bet there's no shortage. nt

[jswordy]

4. ABC, AP still report there are still 3 conflicting reasons being given...

...and the dam work is one.

[HereSince1628]

5. Rescue teams sent to "natural part of building work?"

Well, this story continues to not make a whole lot of sense.

[jswordy]

9. That's why it is still developing

The AP just updated that it is likely a plane fuel tank. That's the lead at 1:25 p.m. CST.

Under edit: Second most likely cause is friendly fire, AP says. Quotes Iranian official who says friendly fire in that area not unusual in past.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. This report says it was road work. (?)

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050216/afp/050216155720top.html

TEHRAN (AFP) - A powerful explosion in southern Iran which raised jitters of a possible attack on the country's nuclear installations, was a result of road blasting, a senior security official said.

"It was an explosion set deliberately to blast through rock and open a road," Supreme National Security Council spokesman Agha Mohammadi told AFP. "In no circumstances was it an attack against the Islamic republic's nuclear installations." :shrug:

[Walt Starr]

7. OOPS!

Wrong thread

[peacetalksforall]

10. Was the first mention of 'axis of evil' at the SOTU of 2001? n/t

[peacetalksforall]

11. How heavy is fuel - could it be loaded on a drone instead of the spy

equipment?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. It's rather heavy.

1 gallon of gasoline equals 5.8 to 6.5 lbs.
1 gallon of ethanol equals 6.59 lbs.

[seriousstan]

13. The RQ-1 Predator has a payload of 2000 lbs (reported)

http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/rq-1_predator.pl

I don't think it is an either or proposition. Most of the "spy" equipment is dual purpose spy/navigation/targeting.

The larger RQ-4 Global Hawk is not reported to have a payload capability. Of course, neither did the Predator until it obliterated six suspected al-Qa'ida terrorists in Yemen on November 3, 2002.

[Ian David]

14. Please tell me the Iranians aren't building a dam upstream of the reactor?

In any case, is it a good idea to have a dam and a nuclear reactor so close to one another?

I mean, if the plant explodes, it could take the dam with it. Or if the dam breaks, take the plant with it.

Then again, maybe it's a small dam?

[jswordy]

15. bump