Cliff Notes
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Sixty-five fatalities and over 1,200 injuries have been reported following a powerful explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei container port, which also caused extensive property damage.
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The blast coincided with ongoing discussions between Tehran and the US regarding Iran’s nuclear programme; however, the cause remains unclear amid government denials linking the explosion to missile fuel mishandling.
- Port operations resumed in unaffected areas, but Iranian authorities indicated that it could take two weeks to clear the debris caused by the explosion.
Number killed in Iran explosion rises to 65 after Tehran denied blast was ‘linked to fuel for missiles’ | World News
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The number of people killed in an explosion at Iran’s biggest container port has risen to 65, with over 1,200 injured, according to state media.
The blast, at the Shahid Rajaei container hub near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, happened on Saturday as Iran held a third round of talks with the US in Oman about Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Shipping containers burned, goods inside were badly damaged and the explosion was so powerful that windows several miles away were shattered, reports said.
Helicopters and aircraft dumped water from the air on the blaze and it has now been put out, Iran’s interior minister Eskandar Momeni announced on Monday.
Port activities resumed in unaffected parts of Shahid Rajaei on Sunday, authorities said. But Iran’s state media warned on Monday it could take two weeks to remove containers damaged by the explosion.
Chemicals at the port were suspected to have worsened the blast, but the exact cause of the explosion was not clear.
Iran’s defence ministry denied international media reports that the explosion may be connected to the mishandling of solid fuel used for missiles.
The reports were “aligned with enemy psyops [psychological operations]”, according to a ministry spokesperson, who told state TV the blast-hit area did not contain any military cargo.
According to the Associated Press, British security company Ambrey said that the port in March received sodium perchlorate, which is used to propel ballistic missiles and the mishandling of which could have led to the explosion.
The Financial Times previously reported two Iranian vessels had shipped from China enough of the ingredient to propel up to 260 mid-range missiles.
It was reportedly to help Tehran replenish stocks after its missile attacks on Israel in 2024.
Iran’s military has sought to deny the delivery of sodium perchlorate from China.
Iran’s state-run Irna news agency reported on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed several emergency aircraft to Bandar Abbas to provide help.
