Inside Minister Eskandar Momeni says the ‘culprits have been recognized’ and the explosion was attributable to ‘negligence’.
Fires at Iran’s largest business port, Bandar Abbas, have been extinguished two days after a large explosion killed at the least 65 folks and injured greater than 1,000, Iranian state media has reported, as questions linger as to the blast’s trigger.
Solely “120 wounded are nonetheless in hospital”, Inside Minister Eskandar Momeni, who’s visiting the affected space, advised state TV on Monday.
The blast befell on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei Port in Iran’s south close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway by which one-fifth of worldwide oil output passes.
Earlier, earlier than the fires had been put out, Iran’s state TV confirmed photographs of firefighters dousing the flames, saying the harm can be assessed after the fireplace is totally introduced beneath management.
Heavy charcoal-black smoke continued to billow over low flames at a part of the positioning, above which a firefighting helicopter flew, footage from the Iranian Crimson Crescent confirmed.
What prompted the blast?
It was not instantly clear what prompted the explosion, however the port’s customs workplace stated it seemingly resulted from a fireplace that broke out at a depot storing hazardous chemical supplies.
Momeni stated on Monday that “culprits have been recognized and summoned”, and that the blast was attributable to “shortcomings, together with noncompliance with security precautions and negligence”.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a radical investigation into the incident.
Within the face of exterior and skilled hypothesis, Iran has denied reviews that the blast was attributable to a cargo of missile gasoline.
Nationwide day of mourning declared
On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian visited hospitals treating the wounded in Bandar Abbas. Because the explosion, authorities have ordered all colleges and workplaces within the space closed and urged residents to keep away from going exterior “till additional discover” and use protecting masks when doing so.
Authorities declared Monday a nationwide day of mourning, whereas three days of mourning started on Sunday in Hormozgan province.
The explosion befell as Iranian and US delegations met in Oman for high-level talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, with either side reporting progress.
Whereas Iranian authorities thus far look like treating the explosion as an accident, it additionally comes in opposition to a backdrop of years of shadow warfare with regional enemy Israel. Iran has previously accused Israel of being behind such assaults.
In line with The Washington Publish, Israel launched a cyberattack focusing on the Shahid Rajaei Port in 2020.
