A massive explosion at a port in southern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 14 people, according to local officials.
More than 700 individuals were also injured in the blast, which occurred at Shahid Rajaei port, located just outside Bandar Abbas — a key hub for Iran’s container shipments, processing around 80 million tons of goods annually.
Babak Mahmoudi, head of the national rescue organisation, confirmed the fatalities during a state television broadcast.
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organisation, suggested the explosion was caused by improperly stored chemicals within the port’s containers.
“The chemicals stored inside the containers were responsible for the explosion,” Mr. Zafari told ILNA news agency, adding that officials had previously warned the port about safety risks during site inspections.
Nevertheless, an Iranian government spokesperson stressed that, while chemicals were likely involved, the exact cause had not yet been determined.
Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, told state TV that emergency teams were still working to reach the scene and evacuate the area.
Mr. Hasanzadeh stated the explosion originated from containers at Rajaei port but did not provide further specifics.
Authorities continued efforts to control a large fire at the site, with port customs officials noting that the affected container yard likely housed “dangerous goods and chemicals.”
Meanwhile, the National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company issued a statement assuring the public that the explosion had no impact on nearby refineries, fuel tanks, or pipelines.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation and dispatched the interior minister to the site.
Rajaei port lies approximately 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran, along the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial chokepoint for about 20% of the world’s traded oil.
The explosion coincided with a third round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, held Saturday in Oman.
In 2020, the same port suffered a cyberattack that disrupted its computer systems, causing severe delays on surrounding waterways and roads.
