A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning killed 18 people and left 800 others severely injured.
The blast at Iran’s largest commercial port shattered windows, ripped off roofs, and destroyed vehicles across a wide radius.
Residents as far as 50km (31 miles) away reported feeling the shockwave, while aerial footage showed fires burning in several sections of the port.
Videos verified by BBC News captured a fire intensifying before a colossal explosion sent debris across highways, with panicked crowds fleeing and injured victims lying amid smoke and rubble.
Witnesses described the chaos, with one person telling Iranian state TV, “The entire warehouse was filled with smoke, dust, and ashes. I don’t remember if I hid under the table or was thrown there.”
Iran’s Interior Minister said the fire spread rapidly from one container to another. Authorities have ordered schools and offices in the region to remain closed on Sunday as emergency crews battle the blazes.
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Maritime consultancy Ambrey Intelligence assessed that the containers involved were storing solid fuel materials used in ballistic missiles.
It referenced a March 2025 discharge of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel by an Iran-flagged ship at the same port.
State media reported that a fire broke out in a hazmat storage depot containing flammable materials, likely triggering the explosion. Officials had previously warned Shahid Rajaee port about chemical safety risks.
Located near the Strait of Hormuz, Shahid Rajaee port handles a major share of Iran’s commercial shipping. Iran’s national oil company clarified that refineries, pipelines, and fuel tanks were unaffected.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep regret and ordered a government probe into the incident, sending the interior minister to supervise the investigation.
The explosion coincided with ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks, where both sides noted progress but acknowledged more negotiations were needed.
BBC News.
