Iran tight-lipped on cause of deadly port explosion amid reports of possible presence of chemicals used to fuel missiles
Source: CNN
Iranian authorities have not said what caused the massive explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing at least 28 people, but video footage and unconfirmed reports point to the possible presence of a chemical used to make missile propellant.
Eyewitness accounts and video indicate chemicals in an area of shipping containers caught fire, setting off a much larger explosion. The death toll spiked sharply following the incident, with 800 others also reported injured.
One surveillance video distributed by the Fars news agency shows a small fire beginning among containers, with a number of workers moving away from the scene, before a huge explosion ends the video feed.
CNN has previously reported that hundreds of tons of a critical chemical for fueling Irans ballistic missile program arrived at the port in February. Another shipment is reported to have arrived in March.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/27/middleeast/iran-tightlipped-port-explosion-intl/index.html

moniss
(7,131 posts)had arrived in port it would be a likely avenue of investigation to suspect either the US or Israel or a combination of the two. Could be accidental but maybe not.
Hieronymus Phact
(585 posts)It was just as likely to be Ukraine torching the weapons components being used against them. Within the same week that the largest arms depot in russia also blew up - maybe not just a coincidence.
"Explosions hit the 51st GRAU arsenal in Russia's Vladimir region, destroying 100,000 tons of ammunition. Glide bombs, artillery shells, rockets for multiple launch systems, and air defense components were lost."
moniss
(7,131 posts)accident. I would put the likelihood that Ukraine would function like this so far from their country at far less than the two countries in the world with the biggest axe grinding operation against the Iranians. We know of one of those who has repeatedly carried out actions like this in many different countries, including ones far removed from their own country over the last 7 decades. We know the US has performed all manner of covert operations during the same time.
Hieronymus Phact
(585 posts)I certainly wouldn't rule out Ukraine, regardless of past behaviors of anyone else. The Iranians usually show no hesitation in blaming the great satan for all manor of things deserved and not. Ukraine has shown remarkable resourcefulness, and aggressiveness in taking it to Russia's doorstep, and i wouldn't put this past them at all.
The point is: We don't know. And limiting ones self to past enmities closes our perception of other very real possibilities of new ones. Maybe the Israelis did it on their own, maybe the Ukrainians worked with the Israelis intelligence network in Iran to get it done for their mutual interests. Maybe it was really an accident. We just don't know.
Since we don't know, It's foolish to reflexively fall back on lazy assumptions. It opens you up to being manipulated.
moniss
(7,131 posts)an accidental cause and so I made no assumption and conclusion all that I did do is list the top 2 haters of the Iranian regime as suspects in the event that it was not accidental. You are reading too much into what I posted that is not there. In any investigation you would look at a cause and if it appears to not be accidental then you would naturally begin your further investigation by looking at the biggest enemies with a previous history of striking the Iranians. Nobody is ruled out but it would make no sense to start with Ukraine when you have two countries right at your hand who constantly threaten violence and destruction of Iran and who have very recent violent acts against the country.
OAITW r.2.0
(30,064 posts)An accident or planned sabotage.