Iran lawmaker says sabotage, drone attack possible causes of Bandar Abbas blast

Iran’s port authority said full cargo operations have resumed at Bandar Abbas’s Shahid Rajaei terminal after an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 70 people.

Saeed Rasouli, acting head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, said 26 ships were currently docking and unloading at the port, with marine operations continuing under safety standards.

He said the blast affected about 15 hectares of the container yard, but other areas and terminals remained secure and operational. Investigations into the cause of the explosion and the contents of damaged containers are ongoing under the supervision of Hormozgan’s governor, Rasouli added.

Insurance companies are on site assessing damages, and the port authority has launched repairs in affected areas. Rasouli said port services were running at full capacity and there was no disruption to maritime or shipping operations.

Bandar Abbas’s Shahid Rajaei terminal handles around 70 million tonnes of cargo annually and includes 23 berths. Only one berth sustained serious damage in the blast, according to officials.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said no military cargo was involved in the deadly explosion at Bandar Abbas port, stressing the site handled only commercial shipments.

“This pier is a commercial terminal and military cargo does not transit through it. We had no knowledge of, or mission related to, the cargo,” said Ehsan Moazen, deputy public relations chief of the IRGC Navy, according to Iranian media.

The third round of indirect talks between Iran and the US in Muscat has been met with largely positive reactions from European officials, media, and think tanks, generating a spark of hope that Europe is determined to back the diplomatic track, according to an analysis by Iran's official IRNA news agency.

IRNA reported that the Muscat discussions, mediated by Oman, were described as positive,constructive,and showing progress by both sides, a sentiment echoed across Europe.

The analysis pointed to the European Union spokesperson’s remarks that any development increasing the likelihood of a diplomatic solution is a step in the right direction, emphasizing the EU's commitment to a diplomatic resolution.

The analysis highlighted the support expressed by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom for the continuation of dialogue.

British Foreign Secretary David Lemi's visit to Muscat after the talks and French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine's reaffirmation of Paris's commitment to a diplomatic solution shows Europe's alignment with the ongoing efforts, IRNA said.

Iranian lawmakers investigating the Bandar Abbas port explosion said a private company falsely declared hazardous goods as ordinary cargo, triggering the blast that killed dozens.

“It was confirmed to us that the imported goods in the containers belonged to a private company, and the importer submitted a false declaration, disguising the cargo’s true nature,” said Morteza Mahmoudi, a member of the parliamentary delegation, according to state media.

The lawmakers blamed mismanagement by the Ministry of Roads and the Ports and Maritime Organization, citing failures in cargo inspection, lack of proper x-ray scanners, and unsafe handling of dangerous materials. They called for reforms to reduce human error and address corruption in port operations.

Separately, Hormozgan governor Mohammad Ashouri said the explosion was not caused by sabotage or any external attack. Reviewing security footage, he said smoke appeared during cargo movement before the blast. Ashouri said the disaster was partly due to the misdeclaration of hazardous cargo, combined with negligence and the lack of proper safety equipment at the port.

Iran's parliament convened a closed-door session on Tuesday to review the ongoing indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, with lawmakers expressing firm red lines on domestic nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions and foreign oversight.

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