The cause of the incident, which occurred at 12:07 on Saturday, was the explosion of a tank storing sensitive and flammable petroleum products belonging to the private sector.
According to witnesses, the intensity of the explosion was such that the glass of surrounding buildings was broken.
On the other hand, the coincidence of the incident with the start of third round of indirect negotiations between Iranian and US officials in Muscat had led to rumors of sabotage.
The explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas occurred while Hossein Abbasnejad, Director General of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Hormozgan Province, was in Tehran.
At least four people were killed and more than 500 others injured after a huge explosion rocked Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas, in southern Iran.
Videos circulating online show a thick plume of smoke at the scene.
A spokesman for the emergency services said that at least 561 people had so far been injured.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with those affected by the explosion.
In a message posted on X, the president said that he had issued a directive for a thorough investigation into the circumstances and causes of the blast.
He added that the Minister of Interior had been dispatched to the region to ensure that all aspects of the incident were thoroughly examined and to coordinate necessary measures to provide care for the victims.
The head of Hormozgan Province’s Red Crescent Society said rapid response teams had been deployed immediately. He added that the cause of the explosion had not yet been determined and investigations were underway.
Administration spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said that the exact cause of the blast would not be known until the fire was fully extinguished.
However, she said that containers containing chemical materials stored at the port were the probable source of the explosion.
