TEHRAN – A spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Defense firmly dismissed rumors suggesting the existence of military-related cargo at Shahid Rajae port on Saturday at the time of the powerful explosion that shook Shahid Rajae port in Hormozgan province.
The tragic incident that took place after the fuel tanker exploded for reasons still under investigation has claimed 40 lives and injured more than 900 individuals so far.
In a statement on Sunday, Ministry of Defense spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talay Nik expressed his sadness to the incident and families affected by the Iranian state, expressing his sympathy on behalf of Ministry of Defense officials and the military.
He said: “Based on the investigation and available documents, there is imported or exported cargo in the Shahid Rajaee Port Fire area for fuel or military purposes, and no cargo has been exported or exported.”
Referring to the stories of specific media, Talaei-nik added: “Some manufactured news promoted through coordinated media campaigns by foreign outlets as part of the enemy’s psychological management is not new. The intelligent Iranian state has always been able to neutralize such media operations.”
He also emphasized that the main causes and causes of fires related to safety or security or security have been thoroughly investigated under the supervision of the National Disaster Management Agency and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and that the findings will be officially announced at the appropriate time.
Separately, outlets such as the Associated Press (AP) and the New York Times (NYT) have published allegations claiming that the explosion is related to the shipment of chemicals used in missile production. The AP reported that in March the port administered ammonium perchlorate from China, but the NYT cited an individual with ties to Iranian security services, claiming that missile fuel components had exploded. Iranian officials defied these allegations as unfounded, reassuring the public that a detailed investigation was ongoing to establish the cause of the explosion and prevent it from recurring.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities, emergency services, health departments and crisis management teams continue to work, ensuring that victims and their families receive the necessary care and the affected facilities are secured and repaired.
On Sunday, Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian also went to Bandar Abbas to monitor response operations the day after the fatal explosion. Speaking to reporters on his arrival at Bandar Abbas, Pezeshkian said his administration was following up on all aspects of the deadly explosion.