A massive explosion and fire tore through Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 750, according to Iranian state media. The blast, one of the country’s most severe industrial accidents in recent years, overwhelmed local hospitals and caused damage several kilometers from the site.
Provincial disaster management official Mehrdad Hasanzadeh confirmed the casualty figures. Iranian authorities have launched an official investigation but have not linked the incident to sabotage, although security services had been on high alert amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman.
Footage from the scene showed reddish smoke, consistent with chemical combustion, moments before the explosion. Iran’s Customs Administration attributed the blast to improperly stored hazardous materials. Shahid Rajaei port, a key facility along the Strait of Hormuz, has faced security threats in the past, including a suspected cyberattack in 2020.
