A devastating explosion at Iran's strategic Shahid Rajaee Port has claimed 28 lives and injured over 1,000 people, according to Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand. The blast on Saturday at the country's largest commercial hub sent shockwaves through regional trade networks, with some critically injured victims airlifted to Tehran hospitals.
Iranian authorities scrambled to address speculation about the incident, with Defense Ministry spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik asserting to state television: "There has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area of the fire incident." The clarification comes amid heightened regional tensions affecting shipping routes across the Middle East.
Located on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, Shahid Rajaee handles approximately 85% of Iran's container shipments. The incident raises fresh concerns about industrial safety standards and supply chain vulnerabilities in a region critical to global energy markets.
