A powerful blast tore through southern Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port on Saturday, leaving at least four people dead and over 500 injured, in one of the most serious industrial incidents in recent times. The explosion struck while crucial nuclear negotiations were underway between Tehran and Washington in Oman, raising suspicions and concerns across the region.
Located just north of the critical Strait of Hormuza vital chokepoint for global oil transit Shahid Rajaee Port is Iran’s busiest and most technologically advanced container port. The facility, positioned about 1,000 kilometers from Tehran and 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, plays a key role in the nation’s maritime trade and oil-related logistics.
Footage circulating on social platforms showed columns of dense smoke rising from the docks as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Several videos captured damaged buildings, shattered glass, and people assisting the wounded. Authorities promptly halted operations at the port and began evacuating affected areas.
Explosion was Caused Due to Hazardous Materials
According to Iranian officials, the explosion was caused by hazardous materials stored inside shipping containers at the port. Earlier, some media outlets had speculated that a gas tank was responsible for the blast, but this theory was later dismissed by Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Organisation, who confirmed the involvement of chemicals in the explosion.
Esmaeil Malekizadeh, a regional port authority official, stated that firefighting teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze. “We are working on fully extinguishing the fire and securing the area,” he said in a televised statement. Four rapid response units were dispatched to handle the emergency, according to the head of the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society.
Babak Yektaparast, spokesperson for the country’s emergency medical services, said that hundreds of people sustained injuries, many from flying debris and fire-related burns. Emergency medical teams transported victims to hospitals across Bandar Abbas, while Shiraz, capital of the neighboring Fars province, allocated 90 beds in case additional patients needed care.
Iranian Govt Insisted Media to Stop Showcasing Early Conclusion of the Blast
The Chinese Consulate in Bandar Abbas confirmed that three Chinese nationals were injured in the explosion, although all were reported to be in stable condition following treatment. Meanwhile, the Iranian government urged the media to avoid drawing early conclusions about the explosion’s cause. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokeswoman, advised patience, stating that a full investigation was still underway.
The blast’s proximity to a naval facility belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fueled speculation about foreign interference. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied any involvement, amid circulating rumors of a potential Israeli link to the incident.
The explosion came at a politically sensitive time, coinciding with renewed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. Led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the talks aim to draft a new agreement that would ease economic sanctions on Iran in return for limits on its nuclear programa program Iran maintains is entirely peaceful.
Shahid Rajaee Port Faced Crisis Before
This is not the first time the port has been at the center of a crisis. In 2020, Shahid Rajaee Port was targetted in a significant cyberattack that disrupted operations for days. Western intelligence sources had pointed to Israel as the likely perpetrator of that digital assault, citing it as retaliation for an earlier Iranian cyber operation.
With investigations ongoing and the injury toll possibly rising, authorities remain on high alert, suspending operations at the port and deploying emergency personnel across Hormozgan province.
