The aftermath of a catastrophic explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port has left the nation in mourning, with the death toll climbing to 25 and more than 1,100 injured, as reported by state media on Sunday. The explosion, which occurred on Saturday evening, ignited a massive fire that extended beyond the port’s perimeter, prompting the Iranian health ministry to issue a state of emergency and advise residents to remain indoors due to concerns over toxic smoke.
Shahid Rajaee port, located in Bandar Abbas and deemed Iran’s most crucial shipping hub, plays a pivotal role in the country’s maritime activities, managing roughly 85 percent of its container traffic and a significant share of oil exports. By Sunday morning, firefighting teams had successfully controlled the blaze, though remnants of the fire were still a challenge, with about 20 percent remaining unfettered, according to reports from the Islamic Republic News Agency.
Initial investigations indicate that the explosion may have been triggered by chemical containers; however, authorities have not suggested any signs of sabotage or deliberate actions. The incident comes as a reminder of past cybersecurity threats against the port, notably a cyberattack by Israel five years ago, but officials have yet to connect the two events.
In response to the disaster, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian dispatched the interior minister to oversee the investigation. He has advocated for the urgent restoration and reopening of the port. Additionally, first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref underscored the importance of establishing more rigorous safety measures across all ports and industrial sites to avert similar occurrences in the future.
