Bandar Abbas, Iran – Iran’s interior minister has attributed a deadly explosion and fire at the country’s largest container port to negligence and safety lapses, as the death toll from the weekend disaster at Shahid Rajaee port rose to at least 70, with more than 1,000 others injured.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said that the explosion, which occurred on Saturday at the bustling port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, was caused by “shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence.”
He added that several individuals considered responsible for the disaster had already been summoned for questioning by authorities.
The blast triggered a massive fire that engulfed large sections of the port, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky and prompting widespread panic in nearby neighborhoods. Firefighting units, emergency responders, and security forces rushed to the scene as the fire raged for hours.
Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the director of crisis management in Hormozgan province, said on Monday that the firefighting efforts were “almost in their final stages,” though smaller fires were still being contained. “The scale of the damage is unlike anything we’ve experienced before at the port,” he said.
Shahid Rajaee port, a critical node in Iran’s maritime trade and a gateway for imports and exports, was brought to a near standstill following the explosion. Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani estimated that about 1,500 hectares — approximately two-thirds of the port area — were severely affected by the incident.
“It could take one to two weeks before normal operations resume,” Taziani stated during a televised interview. “Clearing operations are ongoing and will continue for several more days.”
Initial reports suggested that imported cargo containing flammable materials may have ignited and led to the catastrophic explosion.
Customs officials confirmed that imported goods were involved, though Iran’s defense ministry has denied international media claims that the cargo contained missile fuel or other military-related chemicals.
“The cargo that exploded was not related to any defense or weapons systems,” a spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement. “Such reports are unfounded and misleading.”
Footage shared on Iranian state television and social media platforms showed dozens of containers either destroyed or severely scorched by the fire. Rescue workers could be seen combing through the rubble in search of survivors or additional casualties.
With over 1,000 people injured, hospitals in Bandar Abbas have been operating at full capacity. Medical staff and volunteers have been deployed from neighboring provinces to assist in the response.
President Ebrahim Raisi has called for a full investigation into the causes of the explosion and ordered the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development to assess the structural integrity of the remaining port infrastructure.
Authorities have pledged accountability and a comprehensive review of safety protocols at major industrial and transport sites nationwide.
As cleanup operations continue, families of the victims have begun mourning those lost in what is now one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Iran’s recent history.