**Following a tragic explosion at Iran's largest container port, officials blame negligence while efforts to extinguish the fires continue.**
**Iran Cites Negligence As Cause of Port Explosion, Death Toll Climbs to 70**
**Iran Cites Negligence As Cause of Port Explosion, Death Toll Climbs to 70**
**Authorities attribute the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee port to safety failures and negligence, as investigations are underway.**
Iran's catastrophic port explosion has been linked to negligence and safety failures, as confirmed by Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. The blast at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas occurred on Saturday, resulting in at least 70 fatalities and over a thousand injuries. Momeni addressed the media stating that shortcomings and non-adherence to safety protocols were contributing factors to this disaster, prompting authorities to question individuals held responsible.
Key reports indicate that the Customs Administration noted the cargo involved in the incident was neither registered nor declared before the explosion, raising serious questions about safety oversight. The crisis management director for Hormozgan province, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, stated that firefighting efforts are nearing completion, yet clean-up operations are expected to last for several additional days, with full normalization taking potentially up to two weeks.
Contrary to foreign media reports suggesting a link to military-grade materials, Iran's defense ministry firmly denied any involvement of missile fuel chemicals in the incident. Brig Gen Reza Talai-Nik, a ministry spokesperson, accused international outlets of spreading misinformation. Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime risk consultancy, pointed to a recent shipment of sodium perchlorate that, according to an anonymous source, may have been improperly handled and led to the explosion.
The company responsible for the port area, Sina Marine and Port Services Development Company, referred to the explosion as the result of repeated errors in the declaration of hazardous materials. In light of the tragedy, public sentiment has swayed from mourning to anger as details surrounding the negligence emerge, further intensifying scrutiny on safety standards within the port authorities.
