Final death toll from Rajaei port blast revised to 57

Summary

Official figures say at least 56 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured in the explosion.
A committee investigating the explosions announced in a statement that "negligence in observing safety protocols and passive defense measures has been confirmed."
Iran's Customs Administration said Monday the shipment that exploded and caught fire at Rajaei port had no customs entry number or declaration tying it to its authority.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday urged security and judicial officials to "conduct a thorough investigation, identify any negligence or deliberate act, and take action."
A person with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the New Yok Times that the explosion at Rajaei Port was caused by sodium perchlorate, which is one of the main components of solid rocket fuel.
Crisis official says full extinguishing of the Bandar Abbas port fire may take 15 to 20 days due to slow-burning cargo.
Iran lawmaker investigating the Bandar Abbas blast says a private importer falsely declared hazardous cargo, triggering the explosion.
Iran’s judiciary says expert investigations into the port explosion are ongoing and that the findings will be made public once complete.
Iranian government spokesperson confirms officials are told to delay blast details, says it is to ensure consistent messaging.

May 6, 2025, 08:43 GMT+1

Two managers in custody, more summoned in Rajaei port blast probe

Two managers—one from the public sector and one from the private sector—are in custody and several others have been summoned as witnesses in connection with the recent explosion at Rajaei port, the investigating judge said, according to judiciary-affiliated Mizan News.

Bail orders have been issued for the two detained managers; however, they remain in custody.

The judge, who Mizan did not name, visited the site of the incident on Tuesday to review field findings and speak with individuals who were present from the moment of the blast. He added that expert opinions are needed to assess various aspects of the case.

“If negligence or fault by any person is proven, they will face firm legal action without exception,” the judge said.

May 5, 2025, 11:57 GMT+1

Iranian official estimates blast damage at $5 billion

The explosion at Rajaei port could have caused between three and five billion dollars in damages, a deputy communications minister said on Monday, citing the incident as an example of weak data infrastructure and a lack of information transparency in the country.

Mohammad-Hassan Sadr, the deputy minister of information and communications technology, questioned why the port had a backlog of 130,000 containers without clear information on their contents.

"Why should 130,000 containers be stockpiled in this port, but the contents of none of them be clear?" Sadr was quoted as saying.

May 5, 2025, 11:31 GMT+1

Brief fire erupts again at Rajaei Port

A fire broke out again on Monday at Iran's Rajaei port, the country's main shipping hub that was the site of the deadly explosion on April 26.

Videos indicated that the blaze was caused by a reach stacker, a vehicle used for handling containers within the port.

May 5, 2025, 11:14 GMT+1

Two arrested in connection with Rajaei Port explosion, Iran's judiciary chief says

Two people have been arrested in connection with the recent explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said on Monday.

Ejei said investigations are ongoing. “The necessary measures to manage the situation at Shahid Rajaei Port were carried out as swiftly as possible with the help of rescue workers, government forces, and local authorities,” he said.

He also directed judicial officials to act decisively and promptly to identify and prosecute anyone found responsible for negligence or wrongdoing related to the incident.

May 4, 2025, 16:48 GMT+1

Final death toll from Iran port explosion revised from 70 to 57

The final death toll from the April 26 explosion at Iran's Rajaei port has been revised to 57, the head of Hormozgan's judiciary announced.

Mojtaba Ghahremani said the previously reported figure of 70 fatalities was based on initial estimates.

However, he added, further investigations, including family inquiries and forensic tests, revealed that some body parts collected from different parts of the blast site and stored in separate bags actually belonged to the same individuals.

This led to the adjustment in the casualty count.

According to the judiciary official, the confirmed total includes 46 identified bodies and 11 individuals still missing.

May 4, 2025, 14:54 GMT+1

Explosions, fires reported in Iran’s religious cities of Mashhad and Qom

Multiple videos circulating on social media appear to show explosions and fires Sunday in the Iranian cities of Mashhad and Qom.
Footage from Mashhad indicates a blast at what some reports describe as a factory site, though details remain unverified.
No official confirmation has been issued by Iranian authorities, and casualty figures are unclear. The cause of the apparent incidents is also not yet known. Iran International has not independently verified the videos.

May 4, 2025, 13:51 GMT+1

DNA tests identify 18 more Iran port blast victims

Eighteen more victims of the Rajaei port explosion have been identified using DNA from relatives, said Reza Raeoufian, head of Iran’s genetic identity database.
He said 29 families came forward after the Legal Medicine Organization issued a call for DNA samples.
Samples from 11 families did not match any of the unidentified remains.
Authorities had previously identified 36 bodies through other scientific methods. The confirmed identities now stands at 54 out of 70 reported dead.

May 4, 2025, 12:55 GMT+1

Toxic air persists in Bandar Abbas after explosions

Air pollution in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas has increased following recent explosions, said Hormozgan Medical Sciences University head Pejman Shahrokhi.
Preliminary assessments detected toxic gases and particles, prompting public health concerns. Shahrokhi said the Health Ministry had investigated the issue and concluded the pollution did not exceed critical danger levels. However, officials have urged vulnerable residents—particularly the elderly, children, and those with underlying conditions—to remain indoors when possible and to wear masks outdoors.
“The contamination is ongoing,” Shahrokhi said, adding that monitoring efforts continue in coordination with health and emergency services.

May 4, 2025, 11:46 GMT+1

Hazardous goods must not linger in Iranian ports, shipping official warns

Hazardous materials must be swiftly removed from Iranian ports and not left to accumulate, a senior shipping official said following the fatal explosion at Rajaei port.
“Dangerous goods should be transported out immediately,” said Yahya Ziaei Mehrjerdi, secretary-general of Iran’s Shipowners Association on Sunday.

He rejected efforts to place blame solely on the Ports and Maritime Organization, noting that “the explosion took place at the port, but responsibility lies across multiple agencies.” Ziaei Mehrjerdi cited low storage fees, financial bottlenecks and documentation problems as reasons cargoes often remain uncleared.

May 4, 2025, 11:02 GMT+1

Human error blamed for deadly port blast

A senior Iranian industry official has blamed “systemic human error” and poor logistics for the recent fire at Rajaei port.
The blaze stemmed from “insufficient customs infrastructure, poor storage practices and excessive container buildup,” said Arman Khaleqi, secretary-general of Iran’s Chamber of Industry, Mine and Trade.
He urged the creation of a fact-finding committee to issue a comprehensive report. “Many ships are idling at sea because our ports lack adequate loading capacity,” Khaleqi said, adding that shifting tariffs and currency rates have also deterred cargo clearance.