As speculation grows, Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported Saturday that Israeli military sources said the army had no involvement in the explosion at Iran’s Rajaei Port.
Reuters reported Sunday that the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and military declined to comment when asked about any possible role.
The New York Times and Associated Press wrote that the explosion may be linked to mishandling of sodium perchlorate shipments, a key component in solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
According to security sources cited in the reports, the chemical was previously transferred from China to Iran aboard the vessels. Iranian authorities have not confirmed receipt of the cargo and have said investigations are ongoing.
Recent years have seen a series of deadly incidents hitting Iran’s industrial and energy infrastructure, often blamed on negligence. However, Iranian authorities have previously accused Israel of sabotage, including a 2024 pipeline attack and a 2020 cyberattack on the Rajaei Port.
