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A catastrophic explosion ripped through Iran's largest commercial port facility on Saturday morning, leaving a trail of destruction and triggering a state of emergency. At least 28 people have perished and approximately 800 others sustained injuries in the massive blast at Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas.
The explosion sent a towering plume of thick gray smoke billowing from the port complex. According to witnesses, the incident began with a fire that rapidly spread to containers storing hazardous materials. "The entire warehouse was filled with smoke, dust and ashes. I don't remember if I went under the table or was thrown there by the blast," one eyewitness told Iranian state television.
Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni confirmed that six individuals remain missing as firefighters battle to extinguish the persistent blaze. High winds have complicated these efforts, according to state media reports. The blast's impact was felt up to 50 kilometers away, with windows shattered within several kilometers of the explosion site.
Surveillance footage distributed by Iran's Mehr news agency captured the exact moment of detonation, which appears to have originated in a port warehouse. The explosion damaged numerous buildings within the port complex and scattered debris across a wide area. Some structures were completely reduced to rubble, with reports indicating people may be trapped in the wreckage.
Iranian authorities have shuttered the port and suspended all maritime operations. The government declared a state of emergency in Bandar Abbas due to "significant rise in air pollution" following the incident. The Ministry of Health deployed emergency teams and advised citizens to remain indoors with windows closed.
The cause remains undetermined. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani stated, "What has been determined is that containers were stored in a corner of the port that likely contained chemicals which exploded. But until the fire is extinguished, it's hard to ascertain the cause." Customs officials later suggested the explosion likely resulted from a fire in a hazardous materials storage depot.
Private maritime risk consultancy Ambrey Intelligence offered a more specific assessment, claiming the fire resulted from "improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for Iranian ballistic missiles." They noted an Iran-flagged vessel had "discharged a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel at the port in March 2025."
Shahid Rajaee represents a critical infrastructure asset for Iran, handling 70 million tons of cargo annually with nearly 500,000 square meters of warehouses and 35 shipping berths. The facility is strategically positioned on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping channel for oil cargo.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed "deep regret and sympathy" for victims and ordered an immediate investigation. On social media platform X, he emphasized the need for "a comprehensive assessment of the causes" to prevent similar incidents. Many Iranians were seen lining up at health centers to donate blood for the injured.
The explosion coincided with ongoing nuclear program negotiations between Iranian and US officials, with both sides reporting progress through Omani mediators. These talks mark the first high-level engagement between the countries since 2018 when then-President Trump withdrew from the previous nuclear agreement.
