Two held in Iran after deadly port explosion: state TV
Iranian authorities
arrested two people, including a government official in connection with a deadly explosion last month at the country's main commercial port, state television reported on Sunday.
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The April 26 blast at a dock in the southern port of Shahid Rajaee killed at least 57 people and injured more than 1,000, officials said, revising down an earlier death toll.
The judiciary on Sunday said the toll had been revised because "it was determined that some of the bodies considered separate were in fact one body", adding that it could still change.
At the time of the blast, interior minister Eskandar Momeni blamed "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence".
Shahid Rajaee is near Iran's coastal city of
Bandar Abbas
on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.
"A government manager and another from the private sector have been arrested," state television said on Sunday, citing a report from the investigating committee.
The committee announced on Monday that "false declarations (of goods) were made in some cases".
It said on Sunday that "suspects have been identified and the summoning process is underway", without elaborating.
The New York Times has quoted a person with ties to Iran's
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, as saying that what exploded was
sodium perchlorate
, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.
Iran's defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik later told state television that "there has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area".
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News18
17 hours ago
- News18
What To Expect From Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Goals, Stakes, And Possible Outcomes
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This proximity allows him to travel to the summit without overflying 'hostile" nations — Kremlin shorthand for countries that have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft since 2022, including most of Europe, Canada, and the US itself outside of special arrangements. The location also keeps the meeting far from Ukraine and the European Union, consistent with Moscow's strategy of sidelining Kyiv and EU leaders in favour of direct talks with Washington. It carries historical symbolism too: Russia sold Alaska to the US in 1867, and Russian state media cite the sale as proof that borders can change, a narrative the Kremlin uses to justify its actions in Ukraine. On substance, Putin's demands remain maximalist. As per NYT, he wants Russia to keep all territory seized in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, bar Ukraine from NATO membership, limit its armed forces, and ensure a pro-Moscow government in Kyiv. Ukraine has rejected these outright, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declaring, 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier." Putin may also broaden the agenda to include economic cooperation, the Arctic, and other US–Russia issues, or simply use the meeting to buy time while consolidating battlefield gains. What Does Trump Hope To Achieve? Trump entered office promising to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. More than six months into his presidency, that goal remains unfulfilled, but it continues to shape his approach. His stance toward Russia has swung between conciliation and confrontation. Early this year, he suspended military aid to Ukraine and publicly berated Zelenskyy in a dramatic Oval Office meeting. More recently, he has condemned Russia's attacks on civilians as 'disgraceful" and 'disgusting", and warned of 'very severe consequences" if Putin refuses to halt the war. 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Fiona Hill, a former Trump adviser, has said Putin sometimes uses sarcasm in Russian that is 'totally lost in translation" and has mocked Trump. John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, described Putin as methodical and always prepared, traits he attributes to the Russian leader's KGB training, while Trump prefers an unstructured, freewheeling style. This, Bolton argues, can give Putin an advantage in one-on-one talks. The Bottom Line top videos View all The Trump–Putin Alaska summit is as much about optics and positioning as it is about the war in Ukraine. For Putin, it is a platform to show that Russia is not isolated and to press his demands directly to Washington. For Trump, it is a chance to project statesmanship and lay even a thin foundation for a legacy as a peacemaker. Without Ukraine at the table, any agreement will be hard to implement. But in a war now in its fourth year, even symbolic gestures toward dialogue will be scrutinised, and heavily spun, by both sides. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @ More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Alaska Donald Trump - Vladimir Putin Russia Ukraine War view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 15, 2025, 13:54 IST News explainers What To Expect From Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Goals, Stakes, And Possible Outcomes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
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Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
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