Is Iran covering up Shahid Rajaee port explosion that killed 70 people?

A series of explosions across Iran, especially the deadly blast at the strategic southern port of Shahid Rajaee, and the way the government has been reluctant to share relevant information, have raised concerns about a possible cover-up by the authorities. The port, which is part of the vital infrastructure of Bandar Abbas located on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, handles close to 80 per cent of the country’s imports and 85 per cent of its container traffic, and is a critical hub for Iran’s economy. Yet, the government’s limited disclosures and moves to restrict media reporting have only fuelled public mistrust.

The explosion at Shahid Rajaee, which occurred on April 25, left at least 70 people dead and injured over 1,000, though some opposition sources claim the death toll exceeds 100. Just days later, a separate explosion at a munitions-related chemical factory in Isfahan added to the sense of unease. These incidents followed a cyberattack attempt on Iran’s communications infrastructure. Iranian officials have denied foreign involvement, but many observers are questioning whether negligence alone could account for the scale and frequency of these incidents, raising questions about possible sabotage.

At the moment, Iranian authorities say the Shahid Rajaee blast was caused by combustible cargo, which was stored without the mandatory digital customs coding. They were apparently mislabelled and improperly stored. Investigations have confirmed lapses in safety protocols, but no explanation has been given for how such hazardous materials remained undetected in a port storing hundreds of thousands of containers. The government has yet to name the company responsible for importing the chemicals, further fuelling speculation.

According to private intelligence firm Ambrey, the explosion was likely caused by improper handling of solid rocket fuel. They assert that sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in ballistic missile propellant, was among the materials ignited—allegedly part of a recent shipment from China. A ship called the Golbon reportedly came from China carrying 1,000 tons of ammonium perchlorate earlier this year. 

The Iranian government, however, has flatly denied the presence of military goods or rocket fuel at the port. Deputy Defence Minister Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik insisted that no military-related imports or exports were involved. Nevertheless, a senior Revolutionary Guard-linked figure confirmed to the New York Times the storage of sodium perchlorate, suggesting the material could have powered hundreds of Iran’s medium-range missiles.

There is also some criticism about the efforts to stifle media coverage. Courts have warned local news agencies about publishing "illegal news", and some journalists and activists now face prosecution. Iranian officials, meanwhile, dismissed concerns raised by opposition groups, such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which says that the government has not been forthcoming about the real death toll and the presence of missile fuel. NCRI leader Maryam Rajavi claimed the authorities have prioritised damage control over rescue and relief operations, and alleged an active cover-up by the IRGC and intelligence services.

The consequences of the blast are significant. With the port temporarily crippled, concerns are mounting over short-term food shortages and broader economic disruption.

While paying a visit to the port, President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed bureaucratic inefficiencies resulting in long cargo processing times. Nearly 1.3 lakh containers are said to be stored at the port at any given time because of the lack of infrastructure and bureaucratic red tape, adding to delays and chances of accidents. The incident has brought to light details regarding Iran’s infrastructure, governance and military secrecy. 

Interestingly, although the government denies any foreign hand, some ongoing probes are examining that angle as well. Four parliamentary committees are examining the causes, including the possibility of foreign sabotage. Some local newspapers say Israel probably had a role to play in the blasts. Said an editorial in Tehran's Persian language daily newspaper Ham-Mihan, "It is improbable that the explosion's concurrence with the start of technical talks between Iran and America is coincidental", hinting that Israel was behind the blast. Adding to the suspicion is the fact that Israel launched a cyberattack in 2020 that hampered operations at the port. A parliament member, Mohammed Seraj, also accused Israel of orchestrating the blast. "Israel was involved in the Rajaee Port explosion. This was not an accident,” he said.

“Explosives were planted in containers, either at the country of origin or along the shipping route. We do not rule out internal elements helping plant the explosives. Clear evidence points to Israeli involvement.” If those allegations turn out to be true, it could add to the existing Iran-Israel tensions and could even hurt the ongoing peace talks between Tehran and Washington. 

Middle East