Iran: 8 Dead, 750 Injured in Massive Explosion at Bandar Abbas Port – Caused by Chemicals

At least eight people have been killed and over 700 injured in a massive explosion that occurred today (April 26, 2025) at Iran’s largest port, Bandar Abbas, according to state media. The blast is believed to have been caused by improperly stored chemicals in containers. This incident took place as Iran began a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman; however, there is no indication linking the two events. Hossein Zafariniya, a representative of Iran’s crisis management organization, attributed the explosion to chemical substances improperly stored in shipping containers. ‘The cause of the explosion was the chemicals in the containers,’ stated Zafariniya to the Iranian news agency ILNA. Despite this, an official government spokesperson noted that while chemicals likely caused the explosion, the exact reason remains undetermined. The port of Bandar Abbas handles more than 70% of Iran’s cargo and is located near the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil production passes.