The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran’s largest port, Bandar Abbas, has reached at least 40, with over 1,200 people injured, according to state media reports on Sunday. The blast, which occurred on Saturday in the Shahid Rajaee section of the port, Iran’s largest container hub, caused widespread damage, shattering windows, tearing metal strips off shipping containers, and destroying goods inside.
The explosion took place during ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Oman, adding to the tension surrounding the incident. As of Sunday night, firefighters, helicopters, and emergency teams continued to battle the fires that broke out in the affected area. Efforts to fully extinguish the flames are still ongoing.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with chemical storage at the port suspected to have contributed to the disaster. The Iranian Defence Ministry has denied reports suggesting mishandling of missile fuel, calling them “aligned with enemy psyops.” However, British security firm Ambrey has raised concerns about the presence of sodium percolate, a chemical used in ballistic missile propulsion, which may have played a role in the explosion.
Iranian officials have pointed to poor chemical storage practices as a possible cause, with government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani urging caution against premature conclusions until final assessments are made.
This explosion adds to a series of recent accidents in Iran’s industrial and energy sectors, highlighting ongoing concerns over safety lapses. Authorities are now working to assess the full extent of the damage and resume operations in unaffected areas of the Shahid Rajaee port.
