A massive explosion and subsequent fire devastated a southern Iranian port on Saturday, reportedly linked to a consignment of chemicals used in missile propellant production, leaving 25 dead and injuring around 800 others.
Helicopters were deployed to douse the raging inferno hours after the initial blast at Shahid Rajaei port, coinciding with the third round of negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme in Oman.
Although no Iranian official immediately attributed the explosion to an attack, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the nuclear talks, noted on Wednesday, "our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response".
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni confirmed the casualty figures to state media. However, details surrounding the cause of the fire, which extended into Saturday night and ignited further container explosions, remained scarce.
According to private security firm Ambrey, the port had received a shipment of ammonium perchlorate—a chemical critical in producing solid fuel for rockets—in March. This shipment, initially reported by the Financial Times in January, was intended to replenish Iran’s missile stockpile depleted during recent direct attacks on Israel amid the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
"The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," Ambrey said.
Ship-tracking data analysed corroborated the presence of one of the vessels near the port in March. Iran has not publicly acknowledged receiving the shipment, and its mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
The reasons behind the prolonged storage of the hazardous chemicals at the port remain unclear, especially given the lessons from the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed over 200 people.
Social media footage of the Shahid Rajaei blast captured reddish smoke—indicating the presence of chemical compounds—just prior to detonation.
In one video, a man urgently shouted, "Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go! Tell him to go, it's going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!"
Later, the state-run IRNA news agency reported that the Customs Administration of Iran blamed a "stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area" for the explosion.
Images released after the incident showed multiple fires across the port. Authorities also warned of chemical pollutants in the air, including ammonia, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, leading to the closure of schools and offices in Bandar Abbas on Sunday.
Shahid Rajaei port, a significant hub for Iranian cargo, has been targeted before. A 2020 cyberattack attributed to Israel disrupted operations there after Israel alleged Iran had attempted a cyberattack against its water infrastructure. Israeli officials did not comment on Saturday’s incident.
Social media posts displayed black plumes of smoke rising above the port, shattered glass kilometres away, and hospitals overwhelmed with injured victims.
Provincial disaster management official Hasanzadeh told state television the explosion emanated from containers at the port. Reports also indicated a building collapse linked to the blast, though details were limited.
The Interior Ministry announced an investigation into the incident, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to those affected.
Located in Hormozgan province, Shahid Rajaei port lies approximately 1,050 kilometres southeast of Tehran, near the Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime route through which 20 per cent of global oil trade passes.
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