Death Toll from Suspected Chemical Blast at Iranian Port Reaches 18

• Improperly stored chemicals are likely to blame, according to an official.
• The explosion coincided with the start of Iran’s third round of nuclear discussions with the U.S.
• A government spokesperson stated that determining the exact cause is still underway.

A massive explosion, likely triggered by flammable chemicals, resulted in the death of at least 18 individuals and injuries to over 700 at Iran’s largest port, Bandar Abbas, as reported by state media on Saturday.

The blast occurred in the Shahid Rajaee area of the port just as Iran was beginning a third round of nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman, although there’s no evidence linking the two events.

Hossein Zafari, a representative of Iran’s crisis management organization, attributed the explosion to the improper storage of chemicals in containers at Shahid Rajaee port.

“The explosion was caused by the chemicals within the containers,” Zafari informed Iran’s ILNA news agency.

“The Director General of Crisis Management had previously warned about the potential dangers during visits to this port,” he added.

A government spokesperson acknowledged that chemicals likely played a role in the blast but noted it was premature to determine the exact cause.

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an investigation and dispatched the interior minister to the site, who reported ongoing efforts to extinguish fires and prevent further spread.

Footage broadcasted by Iran’s state television showed a large black and orange smoke cloud rising above the port, accompanied by scenes of destruction, including blown-out doors and scattered papers and debris.

Strategically located near the Strait of Hormuz, Shahid Rajaee port is the primary container hub in Iran, handling most of the country’s containerized goods, according to state sources.

The blast shattered windows miles away and was audible on Qeshm Island, 16 miles south of the port, Iranian reports indicated.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency shared videos depicting injured individuals being treated amid chaotic scenes.

State television indicated that poor handling of flammable materials was a “contributing factor” in the explosion, with a local crisis official stating it occurred after several containers ignited.

As emergency personnel worked to control the fires, customs officials at the port announced that trucks were being evacuated, and the area where the explosion happened likely contained “hazardous materials and chemicals.” Port operations were suspended following the incident.

Recent Fatal Incidents

Iran’s energy and industrial infrastructure has experienced a series of deadly events in recent years, many attributed to negligence.

These incidents include refinery fires, a gas explosion in a coal mine, and a mishap in Bandar Abbas that resulted in the death of a worker in 2023.

Iran has also blamed various incidents on Israel—its longstanding adversary—which has conducted operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program and struck air defense systems in the past.

Tehran accused Israel of orchestrating a February 2024 attack on Iranian gas pipelines, and in 2020, a cyberattack against Shahid Rajaee was reportedly carried out as retribution for an earlier Iranian cyberstrike.

Israel has expressed concern over the outcome of U.S.-Iran negotiations, insisting on the total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran claims is purely for peaceful purposes, although international observers note it could be nearing a weapons capability.

No immediate statements have been made by Israel’s military or the prime minister’s office regarding any involvement in the recent blast.

Iranian officials confirmed that oil facilities were left unaffected by the explosion, with the National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company stating that it had “no ties to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution centers, or oil pipelines.”