Iran Contained Port Fire After Deadly Blast; Negligence Suspected

TEHRAN, 29 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Iranian authorities have announced that firefighters have successfully brought under control the massive blaze that erupted at the strategic Shahid Rajaee port, following a deadly explosion that has so far claimed at least 70 lives and injured more than 1,000 people.

The powerful blast, which occurred on Saturday, was reportedly heard from several dozen kilometres away and tore through a dock at Shahid Rajaee, Iran’s main commercial port located near the southern city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz—a globally vital shipping lane through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply is transported.

According to state media and emergency officials, the explosion resulted in significant structural damage and ignited a widespread fire among shipping containers and storage depots. Footage aired by Iranian state television on Tuesday showed towering columns of smoke still rising from container stacks, while crews worked to fully extinguish smouldering areas.

Mokhtar Salahshour, a senior Red Crescent official, confirmed late Monday that the immediate blaze had been “contained” and that clean-up efforts were now underway. However, officials warned that the complete extinguishing and recovery process may take between 15 to 20 days due to the scale of the damage and complexity of the site.

Despite the severity of the incident, Iran’s customs authority announced that operations at the port had resumed, aiming to maintain vital supply chains and minimise disruption to regional trade.

Hossein Zafari, spokesman for the national crisis management organisation, stated that conditions at the site had “improved significantly” since Monday, though continued vigilance was necessary.

Authorities were quick to dismiss any suspicion of foul play. Hormozgan provincial governor Mohammad Ashouri emphasised that extensive investigations had found no evidence of sabotage. “The set of hypotheses and investigations carried out during the process indicated that the sabotage theory lacks basis or relevance,” he told state television.

Instead, attention has turned to safety failings. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni admitted that the explosion likely stemmed from “shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence.” A depot containing hazardous and chemical materials is believed to have been the epicentre of the blast, according to statements from the port’s customs office.

A government-appointed committee is currently conducting a detailed inquiry, which has so far pointed to poor storage practices and a lack of adherence to established safety protocols—an issue not unfamiliar in Iranian industrial facilities, where ageing infrastructure and regulatory lapses have previously led to tragic accidents.

As families mourn the victims and emergency services continue recovery efforts, the incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of industrial safety regulations across Iran’s vital economic infrastructure.