By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) – An explosion likely caused by solid fuel used for ballistic missiles killed at least 14 and injured some 750 people at Iran’s biggest port, Worthy News learned.
Video footage showed that Saturday’s blast sent a huge plume of thick, gray smoke rising from Shahid Rajaee, the country’s largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas.
A private maritime risk firm believed the affected containers contained solid fuel destined for ballistic missiles.
Ambrey Intelligence added that the fire resulted from “improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles.”
Ambrey stressed it was aware that an Iran-flagged ship “discharged a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel at the port in March 2025”.
Tehran seemed to conform that chemicals caused the explosion. A government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, told the media it would take some time to establish the cause, “but so far what has been determined is that containers were stored in a corner of the port that likely contained chemicals.”
Iran’s Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni said six people remained missing Saturday as firefighters continued to battle the blaze despite challenges posed by high winds.
BROADER CONCERNS
The blast underscored broader concerns about Iran’s handling of missiles and other weapons as the Islamic Republic is seen as a regional threat by Israel and its allies.
Saturday’s explosion was very powerful, as it reportedly blew out windows and roofs of nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the blast up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.
Videos showed a fire growing in intensity before a massive explosion, with people subsequently fleeing the blast and others lying wounded on roads surrounded by smoking debris.
Aerial footage revealed at least three areas ablaze, and Iran’s interior minister later confirmed that the fire was spreading from one container to another.
One official told local media that some workers were “still trapped under collapsed roofs, and we are trying to rescue them.”
As night fell over Iran, many survivors were still awaiting news of loved ones impacted by the explosion.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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