Overview

• A massive explosion on April 26 at Shahid Rajaï port, Iran's largest trade hub, has left 46 dead and over 1,000 injured, with firefighters struggling to contain the blaze two days later.
• Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni attributed the explosion to negligence and safety failures, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a broader investigation into whether the incident was intentional or accidental.
• The fire, exacerbated by strong winds, continues to release toxic smoke, prompting health advisories for Bandar Abbas residents and a nationwide blood donation appeal.
• The port, located on the Strait of Hormuz, handles 85% of Iran’s imports and exports and is critical to global oil transit, heightening the economic and geopolitical implications of the disaster.
• Speculation about the cause includes hazardous chemical storage and unverified reports of missile-fuel substances, though no evidence of sabotage has been confirmed.