Home Minister Escandar Momeni says “the perpetrator has been identified” and says the explosion was caused by “negligence.”
The fire at Iran’s biggest commercial port disappeared two days after at least 70 people were killed and more than 1,000 people were injured, Iranian state media remains questionable about the cause of the blast.
“The injured are still in the hospital,” Interior Minister Escandar Momeni, who is visiting the affected area, told the state television on Monday.
The explosion took place on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei port south of Iran near the Strait of Hormuz in the Strait of Strait of Strait of Strait of the Strait of Strait of the World, a waterway that passes through one-fifth of the world’s oil output.
Earlier, before the fire broke out, Iranian provincial television showed images of firefighters absorbing the flames saying the damage would be evaluated after the fire was fully controlled.
The bold coal smoke shown by the photographs from the red crescent of Iran continued to swirl over the low flames across parts of the site, and violent flames in parts of the flames above it.
What caused the explosion?
It was not immediately known what caused the explosion, but the Port Customs Office said it was likely due to a fire that occurred at a depot that stores dangerous chemicals.
Momeni said on Monday that “the perpetrator has been identified and summoned,” and that the explosion was caused by “differences including safety precautions and negligence violations.”
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Faced with external and expert speculation, Iran denied reports that the explosion was caused by the shipment of missile fuel.
The day of mourning for the nation has been declared
On Sunday, President Masuud Pezeshkian visited a hospital treating the injured Bandar Abbas. Since the explosion, authorities have been closed to all schools and offices in the area, urging residents not to leave “until further notice” and to use protective masks when doing so.
Authorities declared a national day of mourning on Monday, and the three-day mourning began on Sunday in Hormozgan State.
The explosion occurred when Iran and US delegations met in Oman for high-level consultations on Tehran’s nuclear program, with both sides reporting their progress.
Iranian authorities so far appear to be treating the explosion as an accident, but it also comes against the backdrop of years of shadow war with regional enemy Israel. Iran has previously accused Israel of being behind such attacks.
Israel launched a cyberattack targeting Shahid Rajay Port in 2020, according to the Washington Post.
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