Iran’s President Pezeshkian visits injured, site of deadly port explosion

At least 40 people were killed and about 1, 000 others were hurt in the massive explosion that rocked one of Iran’s main ports, according to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was visiting the hospital where the country’s president had been recovering from.

The visit came on Sunday after a massive explosion occurred at Bandar Abbas’ Hormozgan province’s Shahid Rajaee port the previous day.

Pezeshkian thanked first responders when he said, “We have come to see first hand if there is anything or any issue that the government can follow up on.”

He declared, “We will make an effort to take care of the families who lost their loved ones and we will undoubtedly take care of the dear ones who were hurt.”

Prior to the investigation, Pezeshkian had ordered an investigation into the blast’s cause.

Russia’s embassy reported that Moscow was sending a number of “aircraft carrying specialists” to help with the blaze in the interim. One of the aircraft has a dedicated firefighting plane, according to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The facility is alleged to be linked to a previous shipment of chemical propellant used to manufacture missiles.

However, Reza Talaei-Nik, a spokesman for the Iranian Defense Ministry, claimed that “nothing has been imported or exported to the area for military fuel or military use.”

The hazardous and chemical materials storage depot’s explosion was likely the result of a fire, according to the port’s customs office in a statement released by state television.

The fire was also described as being under control by Iranian state television, with reporters claiming that emergency personnel hoped it would be completely extinguished later on Sunday. Overnight, helicopters and cargo planes flew over the burning port in series, dumping seawater on the site.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni was also present at the scene on Sunday, claiming that “the main areas” of the port have stabilized and that workers have resumed loading containers and clearing the customs.

Only one port area was impacted, according to another official on site, Minister of Roads and Urban Development, and cargo “operations are still going as usual in the various other zones.”

Firefighters were seen carrying a victim’s body among toppled and gloomy cargo containers in images taken from the scene.

The authorities have restricted Iranian media access to footage from the area, which has resulted in the closure of the roads that lead to the site.

Authorities also have declared three days of mourning in Hormozgan province starting on Sunday and a day of national mourning on Monday.

Around the world have been receiving messages of condolence for Iran and the explosion victims.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Turkiye, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates all expressed condolences over the explosion, as did Russia.

Hezbollah in Lebanon also condoleed the tragic accident, saying that Iran can overcome it with its “faith and solid will.”

The German embassy in Tehran tweeted, “Bandar Abbas, we grieve with you,” as the first response from a significant European nation.