Latest news with #MehrdadHasanzadeh
CBC
28-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Death toll from Iran port explosion rises to 70
More than 1,000 injured in Saturday blast at Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas Iran finally extinguished a fire Monday at a southern port rocked by an explosion as the death toll in the blast rose to at least 70 people killed, authorities said. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press also showed the devastation of the explosion that injured more than 1,000 people. The photos from Planet Labs PBC came as local news reports from the site raised more questions about the cause of the blast Saturday at the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni announced the fire had been put out, while provincial emergency health official Mehrdad Hasanzadeh gave the death toll. The port reportedly took in a chemical component needed for solid fuel for ballistic missiles — something denied by authorities though they've not explained the source of the power that caused such destruction. The blast Saturday disintegrated a building next the blast site, which appeared to be in a row where other containers once stood, the satellite photos showed. It also shredded the majority of another building just to the west. The force of the blast also could be seen, with what appeared to be two craters measuring some 50 metres across. Other containers nearby appeared smashed and distended by the explosion and the intense fire that followed. The fire still burned at the site Monday, some two days after the initial explosion that happened just as Iran began a third round of negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Authorities not offering explanation Authorities still have not offered an explanation for the explosion. Private security firm Ambrey says the port received missile fuel chemical in March. It was part of a shipment of ammonium perchlorate from China by two vessels to Iran, first reported in January by the Financial Times. The chemical used to make solid propellant for rockets was going to be used to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which had been depleted by its direct attacks on Israel during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Iranian military denied receiving the chemical shipment. Social media footage of the explosion saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggests a chemical compound being involved in the blast, like in the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Late Sunday, Iran's semiofficial ILNA news agency quoted Saeed Jafari, the CEO of a marine services company working at the port, as saying there were false statements about the cargo that detonated, which he called "very dangerous." "The incident happened following a false statement about the dangerous goods and delivering it without documents and tags," Jafari said. Another report by the semiofficial ISNA news agency also claimed the cargo that caused the blast was not reported to customs authorities.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Iran says fire extinguished at a port rocked by explosion as the death toll rises to at least 70
Iran finally extinguished a fire Monday at a southern port rocked by an explosion as the death toll in the blast rose to at least 70 people killed, authorities said. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press also showed the devastation of the explosion that injured more than 1,000 people. The photos from Planet Labs PBC came as local news reports from the site raised more questions about the cause of the blast Saturday at the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni announced the fire had been put out, while provincial emergency health official Mehrdad Hasanzadeh gave the death toll. The port reportedly took in a chemical component needed for solid fuel for ballistic missiles — something denied by authorities though they've not explained the source of the power that caused such destruction. Also read | Iranian port explosion death toll rises to 40 The blast Saturday disintegrated a building next to the blast site, which appeared to be in a row where other containers once stood, the satellite photos showed. It also shredded the majority of another building just to the west. The force of the blast also could be seen, with what appeared to be two craters measure some 50 meters (165 feet) across. Other containers nearby appeared smashed and distended by the explosion and the intense fire that followed. The fire still burned at the site Monday, some two days after the initial explosion that happened just as Iran began a third round of negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Authorities still haven't offered an explanation for the explosion. Private security firm Ambrey says the port received missile fuel chemical in March. It was part of a shipment of ammonium perchlorate from China by two vessels to Iran, first reported in January by the Financial Times. The chemical used to make solid propellant for rockets was going to be used to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which had been depleted by its direct attacks on Israel during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Iranian military denied receiving the chemical shipment. Social media footage of the explosion saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggests a chemical compound being involved in the blast, like in the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Late Sunday, Iran's semiofficial ILNA news agency quoted Saeed Jafari, the CEO of marine services company working at the port, as saying there were false statements about the cargo that detonated, which he called 'very dangerous.' 'The incident happened following a false statement about the dangerous goods and delivering it without documents and tags,' Jafari said. Another report by the semiofficial ISNA news agency claimed the cargo that caused the blast was not reported to customs authorities as well. Only high-level authorities in Iran, such as its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, could circumvent normal procedures at the port.
Epoch Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
28 Dead, More Than 700 Injured in Iranian Port Explosion
At least 28 people have died from a powerful explosion at Iran's largest port of Bandar Abbas, which also left more than 700 injured, Iranian media said on April 27. Firefighters continue to work to extinguish the fire from Saturday's blast, which occurred in the Shahid Rajaee section of the port, Iran's largest container hub. The explosion shattered windows for several miles around the area, shearing metal strips off shipping containers while damaging their contents, according to state media. It also The incident took place as Iran held its third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman. Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, told Iranian state media that emergency services were attempting to reach the area while others tried to evacuate the site. The explosion is believed to have been fueled by chemicals at the port, but leadership in Tehran has not yet given an official explanation after previously denying that the blast was linked to Iran's oil industry or that it was due to mishandling of solid fuel used for missiles. Related Stories 4/26/2025 4/22/2025 Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for Iran's crisis management organization, suggested the explosion was caused by poor storage conditions of chemicals in some of the port's containers. While it's still unclear exactly what caused the explosion, the port was scheduled to receive two shipments from China in recent months of a component used in rocket fuel, which the Financial Times first reported in January. Iran's regime has long received support from communist China, which has helped the Middle Eastern power skirt sanctions by The two Chinese shipments each carried roughly 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a component used to construct fuel for Iran's ballistic missiles, according to a A spokesperson for Iran's Defense Ministry told state media that reports that the explosion could have come from fuel mishandling were 'aligned with enemy psyops,' claiming that the area affected by the blast did not contain any military cargo. Iran's Interior Ministry is still investigating the blast, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier in the week that Tehran's security services remain on high alert to potential acts of sabotage and assassination. Andrew Thornebrooke and Reuters contributed to this report.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Watch: Explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaei port kills 14, over 700 injured
A massive explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran on Saturday killed 14 people and injured more than 750 others, authorities said, in an incident reportedly linked to a shipment of missile fuel chemicals . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, confirmed the updated casualty figures on state television, raising the initial toll from four dead and over 500 injured. The blast occurred near Bandar Abbas as Iranian and US officials held a third round of nuclear negotiations in Oman. While Iranian officials did not immediately attribute the explosion to an attack, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, leading the nuclear talks, said on Wednesday that 'our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.' Authorities offered no clear cause for the blast but denied any link to the country's oil industry. However, private security firm Ambrey reported that the port had received a shipment of " sodium perchlorate rocket fuel " from China in March, intended to replenish Iran's missile stockpiles after its direct attacks on Israel during the Gaza conflict. "The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," Ambrey said. Ship-tracking data analysed by the Associated Press supported Ambrey's account, showing one of the vessels carrying the fuel in the area in March. Iran has not publicly acknowledged receiving the shipment, and its mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment. Footage circulating on social media showed reddish smoke rising before the explosion, suggesting chemical involvement . In one video, a man shouted: 'Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go! Tell him to go, it's going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!' Later, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency cited the Customs Administration blaming a 'stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area' for the explosion, without further elaboration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shahid Rajaei port, a major hub for Iranian cargo, has been targeted before, including a 2020 cyberattack attributed to Israel. Saturday's explosion blew out windows miles away, caused building collapses, and left hospitals crowded with the injured, according to state media reports. The Interior Ministry said it had launched an investigation into the incident. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered his condolences to those affected. Located in Hormozgan province, Shahid Rajaei port lies about 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for 20% of the world's traded oil.
CNBC
26-04-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
A massive explosion at an Iranian port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 5, injures over 700
A massive explosion and fire rocked a port Saturday in southern Iran purportedly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, killing five people and injuring more than 700 others. Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, gave the updated casualty figure in an interview on state television. The previous toll was four dead and more than 500 others injured. The blast at the Shahid Rajaei port happened as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. While no one in Iran outright suggested that the explosion came from an attack, even Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the talks, on Wednesday acknowledged that "our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response." For hours, authorities in Iran offered no clear explanation for what caused the blast at the port, which is just outside of Bandar Abbas, though they did deny that the explosion had anything to do with the country's oil industry. However, the port took in a shipment of "sodium perchlorate rocket fuel" in March, the private security firm Ambrey said. The fuel is part of a shipment from China by two vessels to Iran first reported in January by the Financial Times. The fuel was going to be used to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which had been depleted by its direct attacks on Israel during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," Ambrey said. Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press put one of the vessels believed to be carrying the chemical in the vicinity in March, as Ambrey said. Iran hasn't acknowledged taking the shipment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. It's unclear why Iran wouldn't have moved the chemicals from the port, particularly after the Beirut port blast in 2020. That explosion, caused by the ignition of hundreds of tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000 others. However, Israel did target Iranian missile sites where Tehran uses industrial mixers to create solid fuel. Social media footage of the explosion on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggests a chemical compound being involved in the blast. "Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go!" a man in one video shouted just before the blast. "Tell him to go, it's going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!" On Saturday night, the state-run IRNA news agency said that the Customs Administration of Iran blamed a "stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area" for the blast, without elaborating. Shahid Rajaei has been a target before. A 2020 cyberattack attributed to Israel targeted the port. It came after Israel said that it thwarted a cyberattack targeting its water infrastructure, which it attributed to Iran. Social media videos showed black billowing smoke after the blast. Others showed glass blown out of buildings kilometers, or miles, away from the epicenter of the explosion. State media footage showed the injured crowding into at least one hospital, with ambulances arriving as medics rushed one person by on a stretcher. Hasanzadeh, the provincial disaster management official, earlier told state television that the blast came from containers at Shahid Rajaei port in the city, without elaborating. State television also reported that there had been a building collapse caused by the explosion, though no further details were offered. The Interior Ministry said that it launched an investigation into the blast. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also offered his condolences for those affected in the blast. Shahid Rajaei port in Hormozgan province is about 650 miles southeast of Iran's capital, Tehran, on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil traded passes.
