Iran accused of 'covering up' death toll in port explosion amid concerns of uprising
Iran is under scrutiny for allegedly understating the true devastation of an explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, which reportedly involved military materials, potentially causing significant casualties. The official death toll stands at 70 with 1,200 injured, but opposition groups claim the actual figures are much higher, estimating 250 dead and 1,500 injured. The explosion was linked to a fire in a container suspected of storing sodium perchlorate, a missile propellant, which resulted in extensive destruction and a massive crater. Eyewitnesses describe severe security measures and a governmental effort to suppress details of the incident, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps accused of prioritizing control over rescue operations. Iran's interior minister acknowledged negligence as a factor, but the regime has not confirmed that missile propellants were present at the port, despite international reports of shipments from China to Iran earlier in the year.
The explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas is believed to have resulted from a fire in a container holding sodium perchlorate, a chemical used in missile fuel, leading to extensive damage and casualties.
While the Iranian government reports 70 dead and 1,200 injured, the National Council of Resistance of Iran claims the numbers are significantly higher, estimating 250 fatalities and 1,500 injuries.
Eyewitness accounts and opposition groups allege a cover-up by Iranian authorities, who have mobilized security forces to control the situation rather than focus on rescue efforts.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is accused of smuggling missile materials and covering up the full extent of the disaster, with security forces allegedly suppressing information and images from the site.
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni attributes the explosion to negligence, citing improper storage of hazardous materials, yet the government has not admitted the presence of missile propellants at the port.
Following the explosion, Iran imposed strict security measures, including cordoning off the area, evacuating nearby residents, and deploying security personnel to local hospitals, while accusing the media of misinformation.
The incident has sparked international attention due to previous reports of missile fuel shipments from China to Iran, raising concerns about the potential military implications of the materials involved in the blast.