A catastrophic blast rocked Iran’s largest commercial port, sparking fire, disruption, and growing concerns over safety lapses
At least 65 people were killed and over 1,200 injured following a powerful explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port, located west of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz, on Saturday, April 26. The blast, one of the deadliest port incidents in recent Iranian history, caused massive damage and temporarily halted operations at the strategic terminal.
According to Iranian media, the explosion shattered windows across several kilometers and triggered an extensive emergency response. Firefighting efforts, supported by Russia with three aircraft including two water bombers, lasted until Monday, April 28.
Port Operations Disrupted Amid Structural Damage
Local authorities confirmed that the explosion severely damaged infrastructure, including one of the port’s 23 container berths. Container loading and unloading activities resumed on Monday, but debris removal is expected to take up to 20 days.
Iran’s IRNA news agency highlighted the port’s strategic importance. Covering 2,400 hectares, Shahid Rajaei handles 70 million tonnes of cargo annually over 85% of Iran’s container traffic (3 million TEUs) and more than half of its total commercial trade. The facility is connected to Iran’s national rail network and lies just 20 kilometers from Bandar Abbas, home to the majority of the Iranian navy.
Cause Linked to Missile Fuel Mishandling
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Preliminary findings suggest it originated from a container storing flammable and hazardous materials.
Alleged Missile Fuel Shipment from China
Iran’s Interior Minister attributed the tragedy to safety violations and passive defense negligence. The maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the port had recently received ballistic missile fuel components from China, including shipments of sodium perchlorate. According to Ambrey, the fire may have been sparked by improper handling of solid missile fuel.
The incident has raised serious concerns about hazardous cargo management in one of the Middle East’s most strategic maritime chokepoints.
