A deadly explosion at a wedding in southern Iran has raised fresh concerns over civilian casualties in the US conflict with Iran.

The blast struck a wedding gathering in Kuhestak on Tuesday. Four people died, while at least 68 others suffered injuries, according to human rights groups monitoring the area.

Meanwhile, four weapons experts who reviewed Reuters-verified images and videos said the damage appeared consistent with a direct munition strike.

Three experts also said the weapon was more likely to be American than an Iranian air defence missile. However, the US military has not publicly confirmed that it caused the blast.

Experts Examine Damage at Wedding Site

Weapons specialists reviewed photographs and videos of the damaged building at Reuters’ request.

Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, said the damage appeared consistent with a munition detonating on or above the roof.

He also said the blast pattern did not match fragments from a nearby strike on a communications tower.

Another weapons expert, Collett, reached a similar conclusion. He said the available evidence pointed toward a US 500-pound air-dropped munition.

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Sebastian Schutte, a research professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, also examined the material. He agreed that the roof damage did not appear to result from a ricochet off the nearby tower.

Furthermore, the experts said a misfired Iranian air defence missile was unlikely to have caused the destruction.

US Strikes Targeted Communications Site

US Central Command said its forces conducted several strikes across southern Iran on September 1.

The military said the attacks targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air defence positions, radar systems and communications facilities.

Two US officials, speaking anonymously, said American forces struck the area around Kuhestak. They said the specific target was a telecommunications tower.

Satellite imagery places the tower about 135 metres from the wedding site.

Iranian media reported that the tower was hit at around 9:30 p.m. local time. Telecommunications authorities said it served civilians with mobile, telephone and internet services.

US President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington was investigating reports about the incident.

“We’re investigating it because obviously we care,” Vance said during a White House briefing.

The US military also said it was aware of the reports and was reviewing the incident.

Four People Killed in the Blast

Human rights groups Balochestan Human Rights Documentation Network and Haalvsh reported four deaths and 68 injuries.

Three of those killed were wedding guests, according to the groups. They identified them as Kolsoom Mollahi Najhandania, 43, Zarkhatoon Taheri, 50, and four-year-old Amir Mohammad Karimi.

The fourth victim, 16-year-old Mohammad Mallahi, died while riding a motorcycle near the communications tower.

Iranian media also confirmed the names.

Residents described scenes of destruction after the blast. Images showed rubble, damaged homes, shoes and wedding decorations scattered around the area.

One eyewitness told Reuters in a voice message that several houses had been destroyed and people remained trapped under the rubble.

Strike Renews Questions Over Civilian Toll

The incident has renewed concerns about civilian casualties during the conflict.

A US strike on a primary school in Minab on February 28 killed more than 175 children and teachers, according to Iranian officials.

Reuters previously reported that an initial internal US military investigation found US forces responsible for that strike. The Pentagon, however, has not publicly released its final findings.

In Kuhestak, residents later held funeral processions for those killed.

Mourners gathered in Sirik on September 3 for four-year-old Amir Mohammad Karimi. Women wearing traditional clothing placed flowers on the child’s small coffin during the procession.

“The situation in Sirik is sad and mournful, and people are still in shock,” one eyewitness said.

The latest incident comes as US forces continue targeting Iranian military and communications facilities near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has previously demonstrated its ability to disrupt energy shipments through the waterway. As a result, tensions around the strait continue to pose risks for global energy markets and regional security.