The explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port has become a major challenge for Iran.
The death toll continued to rise into Monday, reaching at least 65, Iranian officials said.
This is a challenge for Tehran. It can’t ignore the explosion, and it is embarrassing for the regime.
On the other hand, it can use this to get sympathy. Iran is trying to shore up support from Russia and China as it navigates a potential deal with the US over its nuclear program. Iran needs to show it is stable and can secure sites such as ports. If it can’t secure them, then how can it secure its nuclear program?
Iranian state media Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Monday about the continued losses due to the explosion.
“Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, director general of Hormozgan crisis management department, says that 46 individuals are now confirmed dead following a powerful explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran,” the report said. Already, 1,072 people had been discharged from the hospital with more minor injuries; 138 people are still in the hospital.
The Iranian report said, “The injured people were treated by five hospitals, including Khatam al-Anbiya, Shahid Mohammadi, Khalij-e Fars, Saheb Al Zaman, and the army’s Sayed Al-Shuhada. A total of 70 ambulances were deployed to transport those injured in this incident.”
Iran says it is investigating the cause of the explosion. Many rumors are swirling.
Iran investigating Shahid Rajaee port explosion
Tehran has accused people of spreading misinformation. However, the explosion brings up memories of a similar disaster in Beirut port that was caused by improperly stored ammonium nitrate.
“Iranian authorities have formed a team to investigate the cause of the explosion; however, specific details about the incident remain unavailable,” IRNA said. It also said that 23 piers in the port have been damaged. This could affect the Iranian economy.
“Covering an area of approximately 2,400 hectares, Shahid Rajaee Port can handle an annual cargo volume of 70 million tons,” IRNA noted.
Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran is a good place for investment and trade, stating that the country welcomes investment by foreign businesspeople, IRNA also said on April 28.
“Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th Exhibition of Export Potential of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran Expo 2025) on Monday morning, Pezeshkian said Iran is a suitable platform for investment by businesspeople, as well as for the presence of foreign tourists.”
The Iranian president said, “With this potential, a good future can be created for the world in terms of security and peace… Peace and security will be created with trade, investment, companionship, and cooperation.”
The president wants to showcase what Iran has to offer despite what he says is the “fact that Iran is demonized by certain countries,” saying that the country was “a hospitable place with warm and friendly people,” IRNA noted. The port explosion puts Pezeshkian’s government in a bind. He will need to show transparency in the investigation.
However, if the truth is that munitions caused this explosion or Iran was targeted for sabotage, then it will be embarrassing for the government, and they won’t be able to reveal the truth. This will create an even larger headache because they will need to blame the explosion on something.
If they try to blame it on some kind of natural accident, then it will seem like incompetence caused the blast.
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