A huge explosion and many hypotheses. What happened at the Iranian port?

In the Saturday explosion, 70 people were killed in the Iranian port and more than a thousand were injured. The authorities talk about neglect and non -compliance with precautions, but they deny that the materials needed for the production of rocket fuel occurred.

The explosion, which could be heard from a distance of several dozen kilometers, took place on Saturday at the quay of the port of Shahid Radżi'i, through which 85 percent of Iranian goods passed. The port is located near the large coastal city of Bandar-Abbas, over the Strait of Ormuz, through which one fifth of world oil production flows.

The explosion struck the windows in buildings within a radius of several kilometers and was heard on the island of Keszm, 26 kilometers away from the port – Iranian media reported.

1500 hectares covered by the explosion

Interior Minister Iran Ekandar Momeni stated that one of the factors of the explosion was “neglect and non -compliance with precautions” at the port. He added that several people were interviewed who could be responsible for not preventing due caution.

The customs authorities reported that an imported load had been exploded. In turn, the Iranian Information Agency ISNA said that, according to the customs authorities, the load, which caught fire and exploded, was not registered or formally reported.

Governor of the Hormosgan province, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani announced that cleaning work in the port may last a few more days, and the return of the situation to normal can take up to two weeks. He estimated that 1500 hectares, or almost two -thirds of the port of the port, were seriously affected by an explosion.

Port operator with incorrect storage of “extremely dangerous” goods

In the opinion of the operator of the Iranian port of Szahid Radżi, the reason for the explosion was Important import declarations – Ilna agency donated on Sunday.

– Extremely dangerous goods were declared as ordinary and were stored in the port – said the agency's head of Sina Port and Marine Services Company Said Dżafari.

– The explosion was the result of repeatedly providing false information about hazardous materials and providing it without necessary documentation. The strength of the explosion and the radius of destruction indicate that the load was highly dangerous – he said.

Iranian authorities about “propaganda”

After the explosion, speculation immediately appeared that its source could be military imports. It was suggested that a powerful explosion caused sodium nadchloran – a substance used in the production of constant rocket fuel. The spokesman for the Ministry of Defense stated, however, that “these rumors are a deliberate disinformation and propaganda distributed by foreign media.”

A press spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, General Reza Talai-Zni, said on Sunday that “no import operations or exports of fuel and other loads intended for military purposes were carried out near the scene.” He also accused foreign media of disseminating “false messages”.

Media about the explosion of materials for the production of rocket fuel

In turn, Ambrey Intelligence, a private consulting company dealing in maritime risk, informed the Associated Press agency that last month the port of sodium nadchloran reached the port and that the explosion was most likely “the result of improper handling of load.”

Also the New York Times daily – citing sources in the corps of the guardians of the Islamic Revolution – said that there was an explosion of sodium nadchloran.

Learn more:

Tvn24