Massive Blast at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port Kills 4, Injures Over 500 Amid US-Iran Nuclear Talks

A major explosion struck the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Saturday, resulting in four fatalities and injuring more than 500 people, according to state media reports.

Port operations were temporarily halted to bring the fire under control. The semi-official Tasnim news agency noted that the number of casualties could be higher, citing the large workforce present at the site.

A local crisis management official told state TV that the blast originated from several containers stored at the wharf area. “Efforts are underway to evacuate and transfer the injured to nearby medical facilities,” the official stated.

The explosion caused widespread damage, shattering windows kilometers away. Videos circulating on social media captured a mushroom cloud rising over the port.

Located roughly 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran, Shahid Rajaee port sits along the strategic Strait of Hormuz a vital passage through which about 20% of the world’s oil trade flows, as reported by the Associated Press.

In 2020, the port suffered a major disruption due to a cyberattack, which The Washington Post attributed to Israel, allegedly in response to an earlier Iranian cyber operation.

Explosion occurs amid ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks:

The blast coincides with the third round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, currently underway in Oman. The exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined.

Leading the discussions are US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, supported by technical teams from both sides. The objective is to forge a new agreement to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons an allegation Tehran firmly denies in exchange for sanctions relief.

Negotiations come years after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the multilateral nuclear deal during his administration.

Earlier this week, Araghchi voiced “cautious optimism,” stating, “If the sole demand by the US is for Iran to not possess nuclear weapons, this demand is achievable.” He also cautioned that “impractical or illogical demands” from Washington could hinder progress.

According to Tasnim news agency, the American technical delegation is headed by Michael Anton, director of policy planning at the US State Department, while Iran’s delegation is led by deputy foreign ministers Kazem Gharibabadi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

(With agency inputs)