A massive explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran

[noumoe]

A massive explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran has killed five and injured over 700. The blast, linked to a shipment of sodium perchlorate—a chemical used in missile propellant—occurred during improper handling of solid fuel for Iran’s ballistic missiles. This incident follows Iran’s depleted missile stocks after attacks on Israel amid the Gaza conflict. Authorities have not confirmed the cause, but the port received the chemical shipment from China earlier this year.

The explosion comes as Iran and the U.S. held nuclear talks in Oman, raising suspicions of sabotage, though no official claims have been made. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted heightened security alerts due to past sabotage attempts. Social media footage showed reddish smoke, hinting at a chemical compound’s involvement. The blast’s timing and context recall the 2020 Beirut port explosion, yet Iran has not explained why such hazardous materials remained at the port.

Iran’s Customs Administration blamed a stockpile of hazardous chemicals for the explosion but offered no specifics. The private security firm Ambrey reported the sodium perchlorate shipment arrived in March, intended to replenish Iran’s missile reserves. Ship-tracking data supports this, though Iran denies the claims. The lack of clarity and the explosion’s devastating toll—echoing past chemical disasters—underscore the risks of storing volatile materials at key ports.




At least eight people have been killed and 750 injured in a huge explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in southwestern Iran, according to official Iranian media citing the country’s interior ministry.

The explosion sent a huge plume of thick, gray smoke from the Shahid Rajaee part of the port complex, according to videos geolocated by CNN, with the government saying the blast was likely linked to chemicals being stored.

Iran’s Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni said firefighters continue to work to extinguish the blaze, despite challenges posed by high winds, Iranian media reported.