Iran Cites 'Negligence' as Cause Behind Catastrophic Port Explosion, Death Toll Reaches 70

The explosion at Iran’s largest container port has seen a rising death toll, now at least 70, and official investigations are underway into alleged negligence and safety violations, with a lengthy recovery anticipated.

Iran's interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, has stated that negligence was a contributing factor to the devastating explosion and subsequent fire that occurred at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas over the weekend. The incident, which has resulted in a death toll of at least 70 and left more than 1,000 individuals injured, was attributed to "shortcomings including noncompliance with safety measures," according to Momeni's comments on Saturday.

He indicated that several individuals who are believed to hold responsibility for the incident have been called in for questioning. Reports from customs officials revealed that a shipment of imported cargo caught fire and exploded, while Iran's defense ministry has refuted foreign claims suggesting that the cargo involved was a chemical used for missile fuel.

The crisis management director for Hormozgan province, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, reported on Monday that the firefighting efforts were nearing completion. Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani shared that cleanup operations at the port might take several days, with a projected timeline of one to two weeks before the port can return to normal operations.

According to the Customs Administration, the cargo that ignited in the blast had not been properly registered or declared prior to the incident, as reported by Isna news agency. Additionally, the CEO of Sina Marine and Port Services Development Company, managing the affected area, acknowledged that "a repeated and catastrophic error involving false declarations of hazardous goods" contributed to the explosion.

Conversely, Iran's defense ministry flatly denied assertions that the explosion resulted from the mishandling of sodium perchlorate, a solid fuel known for its use in ballistic missiles. Brig Gen Reza Talai-Nik, a spokesman for the ministry, labeled foreign media claims as "fake news." In contrast, maritime risk consultancy Ambrey Intelligence noted that the port had received sodium perchlorate in a recent shipment, pointing to improper handling as a likely cause of the catastrophic blast.

This incident has sparked a wave of anger and grief within the nation as the realities of the catastrophic event continue to unfold.