An Iranian MP has accused Israel of involvement in the explosion, as fires are still ongoing.
The death toll from a massive explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas port has reached at least 40, with over 1000 injured being reported. Although the causes of the explosion have yet to be determined, Iranian parliament member Muhammad Siroj accused Israel of being behind the tragedy, alleging that explosive materials had been placed in containers.
According to The Times of Israel, the MP has not provided evidence to support his claims here.
The explosive materials could have been placed in the containers at the source of the cargo or during its transportation, Siroj mentioned. The explosion occurred at least at four points.
Israeli officials have denied these accusations, stating they had no involvement in the explosion. The Israeli leadership has not yet officially commented.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the injured in the hospital and toured the site of the incident. The provincial governor declared three days of mourning.
The explosion started from the Shahid Rajaee part of the port, breaking windows of buildings within several kilometers radius, with containers and goods sustaining significant damage.
The fire at the port has not yet been fully extinguished, and rescuers continue to search for bodies trapped under the rubble.
Port officials have suggested that the explosion might have been caused by a fire that started in a warehouse where dangerous chemicals were stored. Some sources have linked the explosion to sodium perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel. However, the Iranian Defense Ministry denied these reports, rejecting any claims of military cargo being stored and stated that the orange smoke that rose during the explosion could indicate the involvement of chemical substances, reminiscent of the 2020 Beirut explosion.
Abdulloh Sayyid
