Iranian governor rules out sabotage in deadly port blast

The Governor of Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, has dismissed speculation that sabotage was behind the catastrophic explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port, stating that preliminary investigations have found insufficient evidence to support such a claim.

Speaking to media, Ashouri Taziani addressed widespread rumors—particularly in foreign media—that the blast, which occurred on April 26 and resulted in the deaths of at least 70 individuals and injuries to more than 1,200 others, may have been the result of a deliberate attack, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“The hypothesis of sabotage lacks the necessary strength based on the initial findings of our investigation,” the governor stated, adding that the ongoing inquiry is being conducted with a focus on technical failures and human error.

According to a statement issued by the provincial crisis management headquarters, the explosion was likely triggered by critical lapses in safety compliance and passive defence protocols at the busy shipping port, which is one of Iran's key maritime hubs.

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni echoed this assessment, attributing the tragedy to “certain negligence,” though he stopped short of assigning blame to any specific party.

Authorities have yet to release a final report, but early indications suggest the explosion may have been linked to improperly stored hazardous materials within the port’s logistical zones. Emergency response teams continue to investigate the full extent of the damage and potential environmental impacts.

By Vafa Guliyeva