At least 18 people have been confirmed dead and more than 750 injured following a catastrophic explosion at Iran’s largest port, Bandar Abbas. The explosion, believed to have been caused by a chemical materials blast, has prompted Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to order a full investigation.
Babak Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s rescue services, confirmed the fatalities in a statement broadcast on state television. According to British news agencies, the explosion likely occurred in a shipment of chemicals used to manufacture missile propellant.
The blast occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port, a major shipping hub linked to Bandar Abbas, which handles around 80 million tons of cargo annually. The explosion coincided with the third round of US-Iran talks in Oman regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
While Iranian officials have not suggested sabotage, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously warned that security services remained on high alert due to past sabotage attempts. Reports indicate missile fuel chemicals were offloaded at the port when the explosion happened.
Private security firm Ambrey also reported that a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel had been offloaded at the port in March, intended for use in Iran’s missile program. The firm indicated the explosion may have resulted from improper storage of missile fuel.
Shahid Rajaee Port is located 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran, near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route. Footage from state television showed thick black smoke rising from the site, with damaged containers visible.
Local officials have confirmed that four rapid response teams were dispatched immediately to the scene. Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of the province’s Crisis Management Authority, said multiple containers at the Shahid Rajaee Wharf had exploded, and efforts to evacuate the injured are underway.
