18 killed in blast at Iran's Bandar Abbas port: What we know so far
A massive explosion and fire, probably caused by a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, rocked Iran's biggest port Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on Saturday, killing at least 18 people and injuring over 750 others, Reuters reported. The explosion hit the Shahid Rajaee section of the port.
The tragedy struck at a time when Iran met United States for its third round of nuclear talks in Oman.
It was reported that at least six people were missing after the explosion. According to a spokesperson of Iran's crisis management organisation Hossein Zafari, the blast probably took place due to poor storage facilities of chemicals in containers at Shahid Rajaee section of Bandar Abbas port.
'Previously, the Director General of Crisis Management had given warnings to this port during their visits and had pointed out the possibility of danger,' Reuters quoted Zafari as saying. However, an Iranian government spokesperson declined to confirm if chemicals were the exact reason behind the blast at the port.
In this photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) firefighters work as black smoke rises in the sky after a massive explosion rocked a port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, Iran. (Mohammad Rasoul Moradi/IRNA via AP)
Iran's port received chemical for missile fuel
A private security firm Ambrey has said that Bandar Abbas port in Iran took a shipment of missile fuel chemical in March, Associated Press reported. China had shipped ammonium perchlorate by two vessels to Iran and the missile fuel chemical was part of that shipment. The chemical, which is generally used to make solid propellant for rockets, was poised to refill Iran's missile stocks which had depleted during its hostilities with Israel.
A video shared on social media shows the moment a huge explosion struck Rajaei port in southern Iran and the powerful blast wave that followed. pic.twitter.com/DLZYqt0Cyv
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) April 26, 2025
'The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles,' private security firm Ambrey said. However, Iran has not acknowledged receipt of any shipment related to it.
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation into the incident and asked the Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to visit the blast-torn site. Efforts were being made to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas, he assured.
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