At least 18 people were killed and more than 800 injured after a massive explosion and fire tore through Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran late Saturday, according to Iranian state television. The incident, which occurred as Iran and the United States entered a third round of nuclear talks in Oman, triggered widespread damage but showed no immediate evidence of a coordinated attack.
Chemical cargo blamed for devastating fire
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organisation, confirmed that improperly stored chemicals had led to the blast.
“The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers,” Zafari told ILNA news agency. He added, “Previously, the Director General of Crisis Management had given warnings to this port during their visits and had pointed out the possibility of danger.”
State-run IRNA news agency reported that the explosion originated from a stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored at the site. However, Iranian government officials said while chemicals had likely caused the explosion, the exact reason remains under investigation.
The Interior Ministry has launched a formal probe. President Masoud Pezeshkian sent the interior minister to the site and ordered urgent efforts to contain the fire and prevent further spread.
Shipment linked to missile fuel under scrutiny
Security firm Ambrey stated that Shahid Rajaei port had received a shipment of ammonium perchlorate in March.
“The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles,” Ambrey said.
This fuel is a key chemical for solid rocket propellant and was believed to be part of a replenishment effort after Iran’s missile strikes against Israel during the war with Hamas in Gaza. Ship-tracking data reviewed by the Associated Press placed a vessel carrying the chemical near the port in March, although Iran has not officially acknowledged receiving it.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment.
Blasts echo deadly precedents
Footage circulating on social media showed reddish smoke rising moments before the explosion, a characteristic sign of chemical fires. A man was heard in one video yelling, “Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go! Tell him to go, it’s going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!”
The explosion shattered windows kilometres away, with damage reported as far as Qeshm island, 26 kilometres south of the port. Hospitals were overwhelmed as ambulances rushed injured people to treatment centres. Local authorities also closed schools and offices in Bandar Abbas on Sunday due to chemical pollution fears, warning of airborne ammonia, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
This incident draws grim comparisons to the 2020 Beirut port blast, where improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded, killing over 200 and injuring thousands. Analysts questioned why Iran had left such volatile materials at its main container hub for so long, despite well-known risks.
A strategic port under repeated threat
Shahid Rajaei port, located in Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz, is Iran’s largest container hub. It handles the majority of the country’s cargo. The port has previously been targeted — a 2020 cyberattack blamed on Israel disrupted operations after tensions flared between the two nations over cyber warfare.
There was no immediate comment from Israel regarding Saturday’s explosion. In the past, Tehran has accused Israel of sabotage operations, including attacks on Iranian gas pipelines in February 2024 and multiple strikes on its nuclear facilities.
While Iran did not directly blame foreign sabotage for the blast, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hinted at heightened security concerns, saying, “Our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.”
Negligence and repeated accidents
Saturday’s explosion follows a pattern of deadly accidents across Iran’s industrial sector in recent years. Fires at refineries, gas explosions, and mining disasters have plagued the country, often linked to lax safety standards. A fatal accident during emergency repairs at Bandar Abbas in 2023 further exposed vulnerabilities.
Despite the scale of Saturday’s disaster, Iranian authorities said oil facilities remained unaffected.
The National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company clarified, “No connection to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes and oil pipelines.”
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. However, international monitors warn it is edging closer to weapons capability, an issue that remains at the centre of US-Iran negotiations.
Chemical cargo blamed for devastating fire
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organisation, confirmed that improperly stored chemicals had led to the blast.
“The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers,” Zafari told ILNA news agency. He added, “Previously, the Director General of Crisis Management had given warnings to this port during their visits and had pointed out the possibility of danger.”
State-run IRNA news agency reported that the explosion originated from a stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored at the site. However, Iranian government officials said while chemicals had likely caused the explosion, the exact reason remains under investigation.
The Interior Ministry has launched a formal probe. President Masoud Pezeshkian sent the interior minister to the site and ordered urgent efforts to contain the fire and prevent further spread.
Shipment linked to missile fuel under scrutiny
Security firm Ambrey stated that Shahid Rajaei port had received a shipment of ammonium perchlorate in March.
“The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles,” Ambrey said.
This fuel is a key chemical for solid rocket propellant and was believed to be part of a replenishment effort after Iran’s missile strikes against Israel during the war with Hamas in Gaza. Ship-tracking data reviewed by the Associated Press placed a vessel carrying the chemical near the port in March, although Iran has not officially acknowledged receiving it.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment.
Blasts echo deadly precedents
Footage circulating on social media showed reddish smoke rising moments before the explosion, a characteristic sign of chemical fires. A man was heard in one video yelling, “Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go! Tell him to go, it’s going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!”
The explosion shattered windows kilometres away, with damage reported as far as Qeshm island, 26 kilometres south of the port. Hospitals were overwhelmed as ambulances rushed injured people to treatment centres. Local authorities also closed schools and offices in Bandar Abbas on Sunday due to chemical pollution fears, warning of airborne ammonia, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
This incident draws grim comparisons to the 2020 Beirut port blast, where improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded, killing over 200 and injuring thousands. Analysts questioned why Iran had left such volatile materials at its main container hub for so long, despite well-known risks.
A strategic port under repeated threat
Shahid Rajaei port, located in Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz, is Iran’s largest container hub. It handles the majority of the country’s cargo. The port has previously been targeted — a 2020 cyberattack blamed on Israel disrupted operations after tensions flared between the two nations over cyber warfare.
There was no immediate comment from Israel regarding Saturday’s explosion. In the past, Tehran has accused Israel of sabotage operations, including attacks on Iranian gas pipelines in February 2024 and multiple strikes on its nuclear facilities.
While Iran did not directly blame foreign sabotage for the blast, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hinted at heightened security concerns, saying, “Our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.”
Negligence and repeated accidents
Saturday’s explosion follows a pattern of deadly accidents across Iran’s industrial sector in recent years. Fires at refineries, gas explosions, and mining disasters have plagued the country, often linked to lax safety standards. A fatal accident during emergency repairs at Bandar Abbas in 2023 further exposed vulnerabilities.
Despite the scale of Saturday’s disaster, Iranian authorities said oil facilities remained unaffected.
The National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company clarified, “No connection to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes and oil pipelines.”
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. However, international monitors warn it is edging closer to weapons capability, an issue that remains at the centre of US-Iran negotiations.
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