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Thick columns of black smoke continued to rise over a major Iranian port on Sunday, following a devastating explosion that has claimed at least 40 lives and left more than 1,000 injured.
The blast struck Shahid Rajaee port on Saturday morning, prompting an outpouring of support across the nation as many rushed to hospitals to donate blood.
As the aftermath of the incident unfolded, hazardous fires remained active, accompanied by a toxic cloud that enveloped the nearby region.
The Iranian health ministry has advised residents in surrounding towns and cities to remain indoors “until further notice” and to take additional precautions by wearing protective clothing.
In Bandar Abbas, close to the port and home to the main base of the Iranian Navy, schools and offices were ordered to close on Sunday to concentrate efforts on managing the crisis, as reported by state media.
A local festival near Shahid Rajaee port that was meant to celebrate has instead transformed into a somber gathering for honoring the victims and praying for those affected.
In response to the calamity, authorities declared a national day of mourning for Monday, alongside a three-day mourning period specifically in Hormozgan province.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that, beyond the physical toll, the incident has ignited a wave of criticism and blame among the populace.
According to Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime risk consultancy, they suspect that the intense fires observed leading up to the explosion were caused by the “improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel”. This fuel was reportedly intended for Iranian ballistic missiles. The firm noted that a prior delivery of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel had occurred at the port in March 2025.
The New York Times quoted an anonymous source linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who indicated that the explosion was indeed caused by sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in missile solid fuel.
With growing speculation on social media, some Iranians are questioning whether military and Revolutionary Guard stocks of rocket fuel imported from China were being improperly stored at the port. However, an army spokesman has denied these claims.
Many within Iran are directing their frustration towards the government, asking how such hazardous materials could be left unsecured at the port.
This issue is one that the Iranian government will need to confront. President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the explosion site on Sunday and expressed his intention to identify any governmental shortcomings related to the incident.
Following the blast, Pezeshkian ordered an investigation, delegating the interior minister to oversee the inquiry.
In statements to state television, defense ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik affirmed that there had been no military fuel either imported or exported from the affected area.
The port’s customs office released a statement indicating that the explosion was likely caused by a fire at a storage site designated for hazardous and chemical materials.
The economic repercussions of the blast are also under scrutiny, given that Shahid Rajaee port manages nearly 80% of Iran’s imports. Officials initially warned of potential food shortages as operations at the port may be interrupted for some time. However, they later reassured the public that the explosion had affected only a portion of the facility and that operations elsewhere were proceeding normally.
Images from Iran’s Tasnim news agency displayed helicopters trying to extinguish the flames, while others showed firefighters amid damaged cargo containers, including the tragic recovery of a victim’s body. Roads leading to the site have been closed off.
In a show of solidarity, the Kremlin reported that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the deployment of specialized firefighting aircraft to assist with the aftermath of the explosion.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry confirmed that three Chinese nationals were in stable condition following the incident and indicated they had not received additional reports of casualties.
Expressions of condolences have been sent from various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Russia, as well as the United Nations.
The explosion coincided with ongoing high-level negotiations between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Oman regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, where both parties have reported progress in talks. Iran has maintained its willingness to discuss limitations on its nuclear capabilities in exchange for the easing of sanctions but insists its program is intended for peaceful purposes.
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