Fires continue to rage at key Iran port as explosion death toll rises to 65
Al JazeeraAPR 29
Iran Port Fire Extinguished, Death Toll Rises to 70
Above:Â Black smoke continues to rise after a massive explosion that ripped through the Shahid Rajaee Port while fire extinguishing efforts continue on April 27, 2025, in Hormozgan, Iran. Â Image copyright:Â Meysam Mirzadeh/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The incident likely resulted from a failure to observe safety principles, negligence in handling flammable materials, and shortcomings with industrial safety standards at Iranian facilities as earlier warnings had highlighted potential safety risks at the port.
Narrative B
The timing of the explosion coincides with sensitive U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, and the port's history of being targeted by cyberattacks raises questions about potential external involvement, especially given the facility's strategic importance in handling millions of tonnes of goods annually.