A massive explosion in a port in southern Iran on Saturday killed at least 14 people and wounded more than 700, according to state media, and touched a serious fire in the most important import hub in the country.
A person with ties with the body of the Islamic revolutionary guard of Iran said that what exploded was the Sodium, an important ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security issues.
The State Islamic Republic Print Agency cited an official by saying that the explosion was probably taken into consideration by chemical containers, but did not identify chemicals. What made them explode was not clear, but the Iranian authorities did not suggest that it was sabotage or a deliberate attack.
The security company Ambrey told the Associated Press that there were indications that the explosion derives from an improper conservation of a sodium compliance in the port. The Financial Times reported in January that China had sent the chemical in Iran, whose actions of missile propellant were exhausted last year when it and its prosecutor, Hezbollah, launched missiles to Israel.
The explosion and fire sent immense clouds of black smoke, according to the videos of the scene distributed by an Iranian broadcaster and video of social media that was verified by the New York Times. State media broadcasts have shown that the fire has still spread through the tempting port complex on Saturday evening, several hours after the initial explosion.
The port is the largest in Iran and last year he managed 85 percent of the country's container traffic, as well as much of his oil, according to the port and maritime organization.
“Even a two -week stop at the functioning of this strategic port, due to physical and operational destruction, can be extremely harmful to the country's economy”, wrote Abdollah Babakhani, an investor in renewable energy and an economic analyst, in a post on X.
The Ministry of Iran Heath, citing toxic pollutants in the air, declared a state of emergency in the province of Hormozgan, asking people to stay at home, keep the windows closed and wear masks.
Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, said that the town minister of the country was heading towards the region to supervise an investigation into the explosion. He expressed “deep pain and sympathy” for the fatal toll of the explosion.
Bandar Abbas is strategically found along the Hormuz Strait, where the Persian Gulf meets the Gulf of Oman – a shipping lane engaged for the oil and natural gas of the world.
In 2020, Israel launched a computer attack that hindered operations in the port of Shahid Rajaee as part of his long shadow war with Iran. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday's explosion.
But in an apparent attempt to confuse the items on the Israeli involvement, the office of the Iranian prosecutor General issued a declaration that denounced “online activists” that spread voices that undermine the “psychological security of society”.
The explosion came in the period in which American and Iranian officials began to meet in Oman on Saturday for a third round of interviews on the Iranian nuclear program.
Last week, the New York Times reported that Israel had planned to attack Iranian nuclear sites as soon as next month, but was won by Mr. Trump, who instead wanted to negotiate an agreement with Tehran. However, Trump also promised to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, even if necessary for military action.