Iran's Port Catastrophe: Negligence Cited as Death Toll Climbs to 70

The Iranian government has indicated that negligence played a significant role in a deadly explosion at the country's largest container port, where the death toll has risen to at least 70, and over 1,000 people have been injured. Investigations are underway to ascertain accountability for the incident.

Iran's interior minister has pointed to negligence as a key factor in a catastrophic explosion that rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, marking it as one of Iran's largest port disasters. Eskandar Momeni revealed that the blast occurred amid a significant fire caused by imported cargo that ignited, leading to a climbing death toll, which has now reached at least 70, with injuries topping 1,000.

On Saturday, Momeni explained that the explosion was attributed to multiple shortcomings, including a blatant disregard for safety protocols. He confirmed that individuals considered accountable for the incident had begun to be questioned regarding their roles in the tragedy. As firefighters continue their efforts to extinguish lingering flames at the port, Hormozgan province’s crisis management director, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, predicted that firefighting measures were nearing completion, although full recovery might take one to two weeks.

Further complicating matters, customs authorities indicated that the cargo responsible for the explosion had not been declared or registered prior to the event. The CEO of the operating company, Sina Marine and Port Services Development, attributed the explosion to repeated errors regarding hazardous goods and their declarations.

Despite speculation surrounding the role of sodium perchlorate—a solid fuel used for ballistic missiles—the Iranian defense ministry promptly denied allegations that military-grade fuel was involved. Brig Gen Reza Talai-Nik refuted claims of military cargo being present and criticized foreign news outlets for disseminating purported "fake news." However, sources from private maritime consultancy, Ambrey Intelligence, reported that sodium perchlorate was indeed implicated in improper handling that preceded the mishap.

With judicial processes now in motion, there is an increasing outcry among the populace, wherein collective mourning for the victims swiftly turns to ire directed at those held responsible for the tragedy.