Iran’s Port Explosion

On Saturday, April 26, a major explosion struck the Shahid Rajaee port, Iran’s largest container port. In the days since, the death toll has risen to at least 70 people, with more than 1,000 injured. By Tuesday, April 29, firefighters had gained control of the fire but were still working to suppress its final stages.

Q1: What caused the port explosion?

A1: There are still competing reports about the exact nature of the substance that triggered the initial explosion, although attention is focusing increasingly on either sodium perchlorate or ammonium perchlorate, precursors of solid fuel for missiles. An explosion inside one shipping container seems to have triggered nearby containers to explode. While the immediate trigger remains unclear, human error is the most likely explanation. Iranian officials insist that the containers in question had been improperly labeled, lacking any reference to the potentially volatile nature of the contents. Still, sabotage or attack cannot be ruled out. The area destroyed by the explosion was an open-air container yard rather than a closed warehouse, potentially enabling sabotage or attack.