Iran president offers condolences for victims of massive shipping port explosion
發佈日期: 2025-04-27 19:38
TVB News
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian today offered condolences to victims of a blast in a southern port city on Saturday that killed at least 28 people and injured around 1,000.
The explosion and fire at the Shahid Rajaei port sparked speculation of a link to a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant. Iran denied any military material was at the port.
The explosion occurred just as Iran and the United States met in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme.
It started with an intense fire sending flames soaring skywards. Then a massive explosion.
Seen from a passing motorist -- the explosion at the Shahid Rajaei shipping port caused panic in the car. In seconds, heavy fumes reduced visibility and a thick black cloud of smoke rose to the sky.
Visible for miles around. Rescue squads worked into the night to find survivors as the fire raged. The injured were taken to hospitals.
This man said he saw a huge blaze as he exited a building, felt a blast wave and tried to avoid falling stones and glass.
The blast evokes memories of the massive 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, in which more than 200 people were killed.
Suspicions have also been raised. The explosion comes as Iranian and U.S. officials ended talks in Oman about Tehran's nuclear programme.
In addition, speculation is rife on exactly what kind of material was involved in the blast. A private security company Ambrey said the port received a shipment of missile fuel chemicals in March.
Ammonium perchlorate is used to make solid propellant for rockets for Iran's missile stocks. Ambrey suggests the fire was the result of improper handling of solid fuel intended for Iran's ballistic missiles.
State media reported casualty figures but by Sunday afternoon no reports from within Iran suggesting the explosion was the result of an attack.
Aircraft spent the night trying to put out the fire, as the Customs Administration of Iran blamed a "stockpile of hazardous goods and chemicals stored in the port area" for the blast, without providing details.
In 2020, Shahid Rajaei was the target of a cyberattack blamed on Israel, which had previously thwarted a similar attack on its water infrastructure.
