Iran says contained fire at Shahid Rajaee port following deadly blast
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Iran authorities say that firefighters managed to control a blaze at the country's southern port of Shahid Rajaee, following a deadly explosion that rocked the facility.
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In this photo provided by the Iranian Red Crescent Society on Sunday, April 27, 2025, firefighters try to extinguish the fire after a massive explosion and fire rocked the Shahid Rajaei port near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Saturday (Iranian Red Crescent Society via AP)
Authorities in Iran have brought a massive fire under control at the country's main port, following a deadly explosion that has been attributed to negligence.
The blast, which struck a dock at the southern port of Shahid Rajaee on Saturday, was powerful enough to be heard dozens of kilometers away.
According to state media, at least 70 people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured in the explosion and the subsequent fire, which also caused widespread damage.
A loud explosion rocked Shahid Rajaee Port in #BandarAbbas, southern Iran.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 26, 2025
The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company then confirmed that the blast was unrelated to any refineries, fuel storage, distribution facilities, or oil pipelines operated by the company at… pic.twitter.com/2e4EbmWCEi
Red Crescent official Mokhtar Salahshour confirmed late Monday that the fire had been "contained", and cleanup operations were underway.
On Tuesday, state television aired live footage showing thick plumes of smoke rising from container stacks.
Iran's ILNA news agency quoted Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for the national crisis management organization, as saying the situation had significantly improved since Monday.
However, ILNA reported that fully extinguishing the fire may take between 15 and 20 days.
According to the IRNA news agency, Iran's customs authority said port operations had resumed.
Sabotage ruled out
The Shahid Rajaee port is located near the strategic coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported.
Hormozgan provincial governor Mohammad Ashouri dismissed the possibility of sabotage.
"The set of hypotheses and investigations carried out during the process indicated that the sabotage theory lacks basis or relevance," he told state television on Monday night.
Officials from the port’s customs office suggested the explosion may have originated in a warehouse containing hazardous and chemical materials.
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni acknowledged that the incident was the result of "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence."
A government-appointed committee investigating the incident cited similar causes.
Iran's leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, called on security and judicial authorities to undertake a thorough investigation to uncover the cause of the disaster, stressing the importance of identifying "any case of negligence or deliberate actions."
Read more: Iran declares national mourning over Bandar Abbas port explosion
