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Explosion at Iranian Port Leaves Many Injured and Dead
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian visited victims of a devastating explosion that struck one of the country’s key ports, an incident believed to be associated with a previous shipment of a chemical necessary for missile propellant production.
The explosion occurred on Saturday at the Shahid Rajaei port, located near Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province. Initial reports indicate that the death toll has reached 40, with around 1,000 people suffering injuries.
Despite military officials denying the arrival of ammonium perchlorate from China, disturbing footage surfaced, revealing a scene of destruction at the still-smouldering port.
A sizable crater, reportedly several meters deep, was enveloped in smoke as authorities closed schools and businesses in the vicinity. Among the wreckage, twisted containers and charred vehicles littered the surroundings.
“We need to determine the cause of this incident,” Pezeshkian stated during a meeting with officials, which was broadcast on state television.
Officials reported that the fire was under control, with hopes of complete extinguishment by the end of Sunday. Emergency crews employed helicopters and heavy cargo aircraft to drop seawater on the flames, while satellite imagery captured a significant plume of black smoke over the area.
Provincial Governor Mohammad Ashouri provided updates on the casualty figures, and Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, noted that only 190 of the injured remained hospitalized as of Sunday. In light of the tragedy, the governor has declared three days of mourning.
According to the private security firm Ambrey, the port had previously received missile fuel-related chemicals in March. This was part of a shipment of ammonium perchlorate from China, noted back in January by the Financial Times. The component is essential for constructing solid propellants used in missiles and was intended to help replenish Iran’s missile inventory, which was reportedly depleted during engagements with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Analysis of ship-tracking data confirmed that one of the vessels associated with the shipment was in the region around the time in question. Ambrey indicated that the explosion was likely caused by improper handling of the solid fuel intended for Iranian ballistic missiles.
In a swift response, Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Reza Talaeinik denied the alleged import of missile fuel through the port. He dismissed foreign claims as unfounded without providing clarity on what materials caused such a formidable explosion at the site. Talaeinik assured that further information would be released.
The rationale behind Iran’s decision to keep these chemicals at the port remains uncertain, particularly in the wake of the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, which claimed over 200 lives due to the detonation of large quantities of ammonium nitrate.
In recent times, Israel has targeted Iranian missile production sites, hindering Tehran’s capacity to process chemicals necessary for missile construction.
Social media footage from Saturday’s explosion showed reddish smoke billowing before the detonation, reminiscent of chemical involvement similar to the Beirut incident.
In a show of support, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of emergency aircraft to Bandar Abbas to assist in relief efforts.
Source
www.cbc.ca