In Iran, a powerful explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port on April 26 killed 18 people and injured about 750 others. Iranian authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the incident at the countryʼs most important import hub.
This was reported by the countryʼs state media IRIB news.
Instead, a person associated with Iranʼs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told The New York Times, on condition of anonymity, that sodium perchlorate, the main component of solid rocket fuel, exploded.
Iranʼs state news agency quoted an official as saying the explosion was likely caused by chemical containers, but did not specify which chemicals were detonated or why. Iran has not said whether it was an accident or sabotage.
Ambrey, a security firm, told The Associated Press that it believes the explosion was the result of improper storage of sodium perchlorate at the port. The port received a shipment of the rocket fuel chemical from China in March. The chemical, which is used to make solid rocket fuel, was intended to be used to replenish Iranʼs missile stockpile, which had been depleted by strikes on Israel during its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
- Shahid Rajaee Port is located in Hormozgan Province, about 1 050 km from Tehran, on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of all oil traded in the world passes.
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