International desk
27 April
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist and Research Analysist
A powerful explosion rocked Iran’s southern Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday, April 26, resulting in at least five deaths and over 700 injuries. The blast occurred in the container yard of the port, which is Iran’s largest commercial harbor and located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Cause and Impact of the Blast
According to early reports, the explosion started from a small fire that spread rapidly across several containers. These containers possibly held dangerous chemicals or flammable materials. Thick black smoke and fire were visible from kilometers away. Many buildings were damaged, and windows in nearby areas shattered due to the blast’s intensity. The explosion was so powerful that its sound was heard on Qeshm Island, nearly 26 kilometers away. Iranian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. However, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company stated that there was no damage to their key infrastructure.
Connection to Missile Fuel
Some reports suggest that just before the explosion, Shahid Rajaee port had received a shipment of sodium perchlorate from China in March 2025. This chemical is used to produce solid rocket fuel and is crucial for Iran’s ballistic missile program. The shipment reportedly arrived through two ships, Golban and Zairan, with Golban carrying about 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate.
Experts believe that the chemical was intended for Iran’s medium-range missile production. The arrival of this shipment indicates that Iran is trying to revive its missile manufacturing efforts, which were disrupted by Israeli attacks in October 2024.
The investigation will focus on the cause of the fire and whether the explosive materials played a direct role in the devastating blast.