Martyr Recai Harbor Explosion (2025)

Shahid Recai Port Explosion (2025) is a large-scale explosion and fire that occurred on 26 April 2025 at the Shahid Recai Port in the city of Bandar Abbas, Iran. The incident resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and significant material damage.

_{Şehid Recai Limanı Patlaması, 26 Nisan 2025 -} InfosFrancaises

On the afternoon of 26 April 2025, a major explosion occurred at the Shahid Recai Port in Hormozgan Province, which is Iran’s largest container port. The explosion took place in the port’s hazardous and chemical storage area. The blast caused windows to shatter over several kilometers, containers to overturn and severe structural damage. A fire broke out immediately after the explosion and despite continuous efforts throughout the night, it could not be fully extinguished. Helicopters and heavy transport aircraft continuously delivered seawater to the site to support firefighting operations.

_{Şehid Recai Limanı Patlaması, 26 Nisan 2025 -}

Initially reported as involving 47 injured, the number of wounded later exceeded 1,200 and at least 40 people were confirmed dead. By 29 April the death toll was updated to 57. Pir Hossein Kolivand, President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, stated that the majority of the injured were treated on an outpatient basis and only 190 remained hospitalized. The Hormozgan Provincial Government declared a three-day local mourning period and Iran declared a one-day national mourning period.

All operations at the Shahid Recai Port were temporarily suspended following the explosion. The Iranian Customs Administration announced that export shipments from the port were suspended until further notice. While response efforts continued in the affected areas, limited loading and customs operations resumed in other parts of the port.

Minister of Interior Iskander Momeni and Minister of Transportation and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh conducted on-site inspections and reported that the situation in the main port area had stabilized, with damage confined to only a portion of the facility. Authorities announced on 27 April that operations had resumed in most of the primary operational zones. Firefighting teams and aerial assets continued efforts to fully extinguish the fire, with officials stating that the majority of the blaze had been brought under control by 27 April 2025.

President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the site of the explosion on 27 April 2025, met with the injured, and pledged support for families affected by the incident. Pezeshkian emphasized the need to deepen the investigation to determine the exact causes of the event.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a statement regarding the incident, stressed that security and judicial authorities must rigorously investigate whether negligence or deliberate action was involved, and called on all officials to take necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences.

Russia sent expert teams and fire suppression aircraft to Iran in support of firefighting efforts. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Türkiye, Russia, and the United Nations conveyed condolences to Iran following the explosion. Hezbollah in Lebanon also issued a message of solidarity. The German Embassy in Tehran and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released statements of condolence and support.

Iran Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that speculation regarding the explosion should be avoided and that definitive findings would be announced only after the investigation is completed.

Officials from Iran’s Crisis Management Organization reported that prior warnings had been issued about the long-term storage of chemicals at the port and the resulting security risks.

Iran’s Ministry of Defense denied claims that the explosion was linked to military-grade material and confirmed that no military equipment was present at the site.

The Shahid Rajaee Port Explosion (2025) refers to the major blast and fire that occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port, located in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on April 26, 2025. The event caused significant casualties, widespread injuries, and severe material damage.

_{Shahid Rajaee Port Explosion, April 26, 2025 – InfosFrancaises}

The explosion took place in the early afternoon hours at Shahid Rajaee Port, situated in the southern Hormozgan Province and recognized as Iran's largest container port. The blast reportedly originated in the hazardous materials and chemical storage area. The force of the explosion shattered windows across several kilometers, toppled containers, and inflicted substantial structural damage. A fire broke out following the blast, which could not be fully extinguished despite firefighting efforts that continued throughout the night. Helicopters and heavy cargo aircraft transported seawater to the site to assist in firefighting operations.

_{Shahid Rajaee Port Explosion, April 26, 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

Initially, 47 injuries were reported; however, as the situation unfolded, the number of injured individuals exceeded 1,200, with at least 46 fatalities confirmed. Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, stated that most of the injured were treated on an outpatient basis, while 190 individuals remained hospitalized. In response to the tragedy, the Hormozgan provincial government declared three days of local mourning, and a one-day national mourning period was announced across Iran.

Officials from Iran's Crisis Management Organization and the Iranian Customs Administration reported that the explosion stemmed from a fire that erupted in the container yard storing hazardous and chemical substances. No definitive official statement on the exact cause has been issued.

The Iranian Ministry of Defense denied allegations suggesting that the explosion was related to a military shipment or materials containing missile fuel. The Ministry emphasized that no military-grade materials were present at the site.

Some international sources speculated that shipments carrying ammonium perchlorate from China had arrived at the port in March 2025, and improper storage of this chemical might have triggered the explosion. Iranian authorities have not confirmed this information.

All operations at Shahid Rajaee Port were temporarily suspended following the explosion. The Iranian Customs Administration announced that all export shipments from the port had been halted until further notice. While emergency teams continued operations in the areas affected by the fire, limited cargo handling and customs activities resumed in unaffected sections of the port.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh conducted inspections at the site. They reported that the main areas of the port had been stabilized, with only a portion sustaining extensive damage. Officials announced that by April 27, 2025, primary operations in most sections of the port had resumed. Firefighting crews and aerial units continued their efforts to fully extinguish the remaining fires, with the blaze largely brought under control by April 27.

On April 27, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the explosion site, met with the injured, and pledged support for the families affected by the disaster. Pezeshkian emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to fully determine the causes of the incident.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his statement regarding the event, stressed that security and judicial authorities must meticulously investigate whether negligence or deliberate actions played a role. He also called on all officials to take the necessary precautions to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In a gesture of solidarity, Russia dispatched expert teams and firefighting aircraft to assist with extinguishing the blaze. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Russia, and the United Nations conveyed their condolences to Iran following the explosion. Hezbollah in Lebanon also issued a statement of solidarity. In addition, the German Embassy in Tehran and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released messages of condolence and support.

The investigation into the cause of the explosion remains ongoing. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani urged the public and media to refrain from speculation, noting that definitive conclusions would be announced upon the completion of the official investigation.

Officials from Iran’s Crisis Management Organization reported that prior warnings had been issued regarding the long-term storage of chemical materials at the port, which was identified as a significant safety risk.

The Iranian Ministry of Defense rejected claims suggesting that the explosion was connected to military shipments, asserting that no military-grade materials were present at the site. Satellite imagery captured after the explosion revealed extensive black smoke and a large crater at the port area.

The fire that broke out following the explosion was fully extinguished as of 28 April 2025. Iran’s Minister of Interior, Iskander Momeni, stated that the fire which erupted at the port after the explosion had been brought under control after two days of efforts and that security measures at the site had been strengthened.

_{Patlama sonrası limanın son hali, 28 Nisan 2025 - Anadolu Ajansı}

Hormuzgan Governor Muhammad Ashuri noted that the number of fatalities at the Shahid Recai Port had risen to 70 and that the primary objective at the site was to recover the bodies of the deceased.

Authorities attributed the cause of the fire to failure to comply with safety protocols and negligence. Iran’s Minister of Interior announced that those responsible had been identified and referred to judicial authorities.

_{Yangın bölgesinde görev yapan İran Kızılay personeli, 28 Nisan 2025 - Anadolu Ajansı}

In the aftermath of the explosion, under health precautions, all schools and government offices in the area were temporarily closed, and the public was advised to wear protective masks and avoid going outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Official statements have indicated that, to date, no direct evidence of sabotage has been found.

Mohammad Mohsen Sadr, President of Iran's Information Technology Organization, stated that the total damage caused by the explosion at Shahid Recai Port on 26 April 2025 is estimated to be between 3 and 5 billion US dollars. It was announced that 2,600 vehicles in the port area were damaged and compensation payments to their owners have been initiated.

_{Patlamadan sonra yürütülen arama-kurtarma çalışmaları, 27 Nisan 2025 - Anadolu Ajansı}

Regarding the incident, Gholam Hossein Mohsen Ejei, Head of Iran's Judiciary, reported that an investigation has been launched against individuals suspected of negligence or fault, and so far two people have been taken into custody.

On 29 April 2025, the Hürmüzgan Public Prosecutor's Office updated the death toll to 57, stating that the identities of 46 of the victims had been confirmed through DNA testing and that the bodies had been delivered to their families.

Pir Hüseyin Kolivend, President of the Iranian Red Crescent, stated that the explosion at Shahid Recai Port began with sparks from a forklift. It was noted that the fire spread rapidly after this spark and quickly escalated into a major explosion.

Kolivend said that the containers were improperly stored in violation of standards, that hazardous chemicals and food products were stored in the same area, and that safety regulations were not followed. It was determined that no fire truck or emergency response unit was present at the site of the fire, which contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.

Iran's Minister of Interior, Iskender Mumin, also declared that the explosion was caused by negligence and stated that the possibility of sabotage had been ruled out following the investigation.