A massive explosion and fire ripped through Iran’s largest commercial port, Shahid Rajaee in Bandar Abbas, on Saturday, leaving at least eight people dead and over 700 injured.
The blast, which generated plumes of dense black and orange smoke visible for kilometers, was reportedly triggered by chemical materials stored in shipping containers, according to Iranian state media.
The explosion occurred as Iran and the United States resumed indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman — a coincidence that has fueled speculation, though officials insist there is no evidence of sabotage or foreign involvement.
No immediate indication of sabotage
Iranian officials were quick to quash rumors of an intentional attack. “There is no indication that this explosion was the result of sabotage,” a government spokesperson stated. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted a port official who said, “The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers,” adding that poor storage and handling were likely contributing factors.
Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to the site to oversee response operations and ongoing investigations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “deep sorrow and sympathy” for the victims and ordered a comprehensive probe into the incident.
Strategic port with a volatile Past
Shahid Rajaee port, located near the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints — is Iran’s main container terminal and handles a majority of its non-oil commercial goods. It has also been a site of previous conflict and cyber activity. In 2020, it was the target of a cyberattack widely attributed to Israel, disrupting operations for days.
This latest incident, however, appears to be accidental. According to Hossein Zafari of Iran’s Crisis Management Organization, the explosion stemmed from a stockpile of hazardous chemicals. “Warnings had previously been issued about the danger posed by these materials,” Zafari told the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).
Civilian impact and environmental concerns
The explosion shattered windows across a wide radius and was heard as far away as Qeshm Island, 26 kilometers from the port. Iranian media showed injured civilians being rushed to hospitals, debris-strewn offices, and firefighters battling multiple blazes well into the night.
Local authorities warned of air pollution from toxic gases such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Schools in Bandar Abbas were ordered closed on Sunday as a precaution.
Despite the scale of the incident, oil infrastructure and refineries remained unaffected, according to the National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company.
Rising safety and security concerns
The explosion adds to a growing list of industrial and infrastructure incidents in Iran, including refinery fires, mine gas explosions, and past port mishaps. While some events have been attributed to foreign sabotage, particularly by Israel, many — like Saturday’s blast — are increasingly being linked to systemic negligence and safety failures.
As nuclear negotiations resume and tensions remain high in the region, the incident at Shahid Rajaee port underscores the complex intersection of domestic oversight, international diplomacy, and regional security threats facing Iran today.
Adding a potential layer of geopolitical complexity, private maritime security firm Ambrey reported that Shahid Rajaee port had received a shipment of sodium perchlorate earlier this year — a chemical compound used in solid rocket fuel. “The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles,” Ambrey said.
Although Iran has not confirmed the presence of this compound at the port, security experts noted that reddish smoke seen in social media videos of the blast suggests the combustion of chemical materials similar to those used in missile propellants.