Iran’s interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, has indicated that negligence was a contributing factor to the recent catastrophic explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, elevating the death toll to at least 70. The blast occurred on Saturday, injuring over 1,000 individuals, and Momeni noted that the tragedy stemmed from "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence."
Authorities have called in responsible individuals for questioning, as more details about the explosion emerge. Customs officials reported that imported cargo caused the fire and subsequent explosion, but the defense ministry has rejected claims that it involved missile fuel chemical shipments. Firefighting efforts at the port are reportedly nearing completion, and Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani estimates recovery operations might take one to two weeks to restore normalcy.
The catastrophic incident has devastated about 1,500 hectares of the port area. Following the explosion, the CEO of Sina Marine and Port Services Development Company, which manages the affected section, attributed the explosion to dangerous mismanagement involving the false declaration of hazardous substances. While Iran's defense ministry denies the presence of military-grade cargo at the site, discrepancies persist, with reports from maritime risk consultancy Ambrey Intelligence linking improper handling of a sodium perchlorate shipment to the explosion.
As investigations continue, the disaster has provoked an outcry among Iranians, with mourning shifting to anger over lapses in safety protocols, prompting significant scrutiny of the responsible parties.
