A four-story building on Taleghani Street between Iranshahr and Mousavi streets collapsed this evening, leaving multiple people injured and raising further questions about the Iranian regime’s ongoing failure to enforce building safety regulations. At least three people were injured, including a construction worker and two pedestrians, while rescue operations continue amid uncertainty over how many may still be trapped under the debris.
Residents and business owners near the site had previously warned authorities about the poor condition of the building, citing visible cracks and structural weaknesses. One shop owner told the state-run Shargh Daily that they had submitted complaints, but officials took no action to prevent the disaster. Despite prior concerns, the building was undergoing demolition when it suddenly crumbled.
The collapse is yet another example of structural failures across Iran that could have been prevented. In December 2024, a six-story residential building in Ahvaz’s Zeytoon-e Karmandi neighborhood collapsed after suffering earthquake damage, despite prior warnings about its instability. Officials claimed there were no casualties since the building had been evacuated, but the incident underscored how little was done to address the dangers before it was too late. In 2022, the Metropol Complex in Abadan collapsed due to corruption and ignored safety violations, killing at least 43 people. In Tehran, a 2023 incident saw five buildings collapse simultaneously in the Ahmadieh district due to unregulated construction.
The Iranian regime’s handling of such incidents follows a familiar pattern. Warnings from engineers and residents are routinely ignored, only for officials to blame vague “structural deficiencies” once a collapse occurs. State media quickly shift the focus to rescue operations while avoiding any accountability for the failure to prevent these disasters in the first place. After the Metropol collapse, authorities admitted that thousands of buildings in Tehran alone were at risk, but city officials blocked the publication of a list of unsafe structures, fearing public outrage.
In today’s incident, the collapse also impacted a nearby bus stop, and it remains unclear whether more people were affected. Reports indicate that a pregnant woman suffered distress due to the disaster and was transported to a hospital. Authorities have yet to provide clear answers about how many workers were inside at the time.
As buildings continue to fall due to corruption, lack of oversight, and negligence, Iranian citizens are left to face the consequences. Rather than prioritizing safety regulations and accountability, the regime continues to enable a system where profits come before human lives.