A large explosion and subsequent fire occurred at the Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran on Saturday, April 26, resulting in at least 70 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries, as reported by Iranian officials. The incident took place at Iran’s largest commercial port, located near Bandar Abbas.
Efforts to control the blaze involved helicopters and aircraft dropping water on the fire throughout the night into Sunday. Provincial Governor Mohammad Ashouri announced a three-day mourning period, while state television indicated that port operations resumed by Sunday, airing footage of containers being unloaded from a commercial vessel.
The explosion’s cause is still under investigation, with Iranian authorities attributing it to negligence. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi cited “negligence, including noncompliance with safety precautions” as a factor. The Customs Administration of Iran pointed to a stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials at the port as a potential cause, although specific details were not provided.
Private security firm Ambrey noted that the port received a shipment of ammonium perchlorate from China in March. This chemical is vital for missile propellant production. Ambrey suggested that improper handling of solid fuel intended for Iranian ballistic missiles led to the fire. Ship-tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press identified a vessel thought to carry the chemical near the port in March.
On Sunday, Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Reza Talaeinik dismissed these claims, stating, “No sort of imported and exporting consignment for fuel or military application was (or) is in the site of the port,” during a phone call with state TV, labeling foreign reports about missile fuel as “baseless.”
Satellite images reveal two large craters at the explosion site, demonstrating the blast’s intensity. Verified videos analyzed by CBS News partner network BBC News depicted a growing fire before the explosion. The blast’s force was felt up to 31 miles away, with social media videos showing shattered glass in buildings miles from the site.
An eyewitness recorded the moments leading up to the explosion, warning others, “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!” as captured in video footage shared on YouTube.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the site on Sunday, where containers appeared damaged or displaced.
Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent society, reported that of the approximately 1,000 injured, only 190 remained hospitalized by Sunday. The crisis management director indicated that the firefighting effort was nearing completion by Sunday afternoon, with the fire reportedly under control.
The cargo involved in the fire had not been registered or officially declared before the incident, according to the Customs Administration.
The governor estimated that around 5.8 square miles of the port site were severely impacted. The Shahid Rajaei port is a crucial economic hub for Iran, handling approximately 70% of the nation’s goods.
Concerns have been raised about the storage of potentially dangerous materials at a civilian port, especially after the devastating Beirut port explosion in 2020, which resulted in over 200 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries.
The explosion coincided with a meeting between Iran and the United States in Oman on Saturday, April 26, for the third round of negotiations concerning Tehran’s nuclear program. While no one in Iran has directly suggested the explosion resulted from an attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted earlier in the week that “our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.”
The Shahid Rajaei port has previously been targeted. In 2020, a cyberattack attributed to Israel targeted the port, following Israel’s report of thwarting a cyberattack on its water systems, which it blamed on Iran.
Situated about 650 miles southeast of Iran’s capital, Tehran, the Shahid Rajaei port is located on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf through which 20% of global oil trade passes. The port’s strategic significance has heightened concerns over the explosion’s potential impact on regional trade and security.
As investigations proceed, authorities have reportedly identified and summoned individuals believed to be responsible for the negligence leading to the explosion. The incident has sparked both mourning and frustration among locals regarding safety protocols at the critical port facility.
