An explosion at Iran’s largest commercial port, Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, has claimed the lives of 25 people and injured around 800 others, according to official sources. The powerful blast occurred on Saturday, April 26, near the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iranian authorities stated that preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by a fire in a depot storing hazardous and chemical materials. Regional emergency officials reported that the fire led to the detonation of multiple containers. The New York Times, citing a source from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the primary cause was sodium perchlorate, a chemical used in solid rocket fuel.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim confirmed the death toll at 25, while state television reported approximately 800 people injured. Due to heavy air pollution following the blast, all schools and government offices in Bandar Abbas have been closed, and the Ministry of Health has urged residents to stay indoors and use protective masks.
According to Fars News Agency, the explosion was so intense that it was heard up to 50 kilometers away, causing earthquake-like tremors and significant damage to port infrastructure.
Iran’s Interior Minister Sikandar Momeni, speaking to the media at the scene, confirmed that operations at critical sections of the port have been stabilized, with container loading and customs clearance resuming.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that three Chinese nationals sustained minor injuries in the incident.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an immediate investigation. Meanwhile, the UAE and Saudi Arabia conveyed their solidarity and condolences to Iran.
Authorities have declared three days of mourning in Hormozgan Province. The state-owned oil products company clarified that its facilities were not affected by the explosion.
Notably, the blast occurred amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iranian and American representatives in Oman. Although officials have categorized the incident as an accident, analysts suggest it cannot be entirely separated from the rising Iran-Israel tensions in the region. The Washington Post recalled that Israel had previously conducted a cyberattack on Rajaei Port in 2020.
