While Iranian authorities announced that the death toll from the explosion at Rajaee Port has risen to at least 65 people, investigations continue amid growing concern. Hypotheses of a possible act of sabotage have begun to surface, especially given the lack of sufficient official clarification about the causes of the incident, pending the results, according to observers.
Speculation intensified after Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, revealed that the incident might have been caused by the use of small drones or by infiltrators.
He emphasised that one of the main scenarios being considered by investigators is that of sabotage, stressing that the National Security Committee must consider this hypothesis seriously.
Shahriari affirmed that the available information is still incomplete, noting that a final judgment cannot be made until the investigations are concluded. However, he said that the authorities should not rule out any possibilities – whether due to technical negligence or a deliberate act.
He also pointed out a general failure to adhere to safety standards within Iran, comparing the incident to the Plasco Tower fire in Tehran. He said, “Unfortunately, we do not observe safety procedures anywhere, and that is why we see an unprecedented number of fires compared to other countries.”
The Iranian MP further stated that if it is proven that the incident was an act of sabotage, the public must be informed, especially since flammable materials are not limited to Bandar Abbas but are present in multiple locations across the country. This, he argued, necessitates greater security awareness.
The US yesterday imposed sanctions on a network based in Iran and China that it accused of procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to increase pressure on Tehran.
The US Treasury Department in a statement said it was targeting six entities and six individuals as part of the action, which comes as the Trump administration has relaunched negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
“Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
&uuid=(email))