A significant explosion reverberated through a port in southern Iran on Saturday, resulting in the tragic deaths of five individuals and leaving over 700 others injured, as reported by various media outlets.
The blast, which occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port, coincided with the third round of negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear program between Iranian and U.S. officials in Oman, although no connection between the two events has been established.
The impact of the explosion
The explosion, located near Bandar Abbas, was powerful enough to shatter windows of nearby office buildings and caused the roof of at least one structure to collapse, according to BBC reports. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the explosion was preceded by a fire that spread to unsealed containers containing flammable materials.
Reports indicate that the incident was likely triggered by a chemical substance used in missile propellant. A crisis management official detailed that the source of the explosion stemmed from several containers in the wharf area of Shahid Rajaee Port.
“The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area,”
the official stated, as per BBC coverage. Ambrey Intelligence, a global maritime risk firm, further noted that the fire resulted from “improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles.”
Official responses and investigations
Despite the scale of the explosion, authorities have found no evidence suggesting it was an intentional attack. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged earlier that “our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.”
Local media reported that Iran’s national oil production company clarified that the explosion had “no connection” to the nation’s oil refineries, fuel tanks, or pipelines. On Saturday evening, the state-run IRNA news agency cited the Customs Administration of Iran, which attributed the explosion to a “stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area,” although further details were not provided.
In light of this tragic event, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “deep regret and sympathy” for those affected and announced the initiation of a government investigation into the incident.