A huge blast killed 18 people and hurt 800 others at Iran's largest port Saturday morning. The explosion at Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas broke windows and roofs of buildings up to 31 miles away. Videos show a growing fire before the massive blast sent people running for safety as debris filled the air.
One witness told state TV that the warehouse was filled with smoke, dust, and ashes during the incident. They didn't remember if they dove under a table or were thrown there. Aerial images revealed multiple areas burning as the fire spread between containers. Officials closed schools and offices in the region on Sunday.
A maritime risk company claimed the containers held solid fuel for ballistic missiles. The firm stated that an Iranian ship brought rocket fuel from China to the port last month. Iranian customs officials blamed a fire that started in a chemical storage area. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed sympathy for the victims and ordered an investigation.
The explosion happened during US-Iran nuclear talks with Donald Trump seeking a deal to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Both sides reported progress through Omani mediators, but differences remain. Iran wants sanctions relief for nuclear program limits, but refuses to stop uranium enrichment. These discussions mark the first high-level contact since Trump ended the previous agreement in 2018.
One witness told state TV that the warehouse was filled with smoke, dust, and ashes during the incident. They didn't remember if they dove under a table or were thrown there. Aerial images revealed multiple areas burning as the fire spread between containers. Officials closed schools and offices in the region on Sunday.
A maritime risk company claimed the containers held solid fuel for ballistic missiles. The firm stated that an Iranian ship brought rocket fuel from China to the port last month. Iranian customs officials blamed a fire that started in a chemical storage area. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed sympathy for the victims and ordered an investigation.
The explosion happened during US-Iran nuclear talks with Donald Trump seeking a deal to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Both sides reported progress through Omani mediators, but differences remain. Iran wants sanctions relief for nuclear program limits, but refuses to stop uranium enrichment. These discussions mark the first high-level contact since Trump ended the previous agreement in 2018.
