A massive explosion at a port in Iran left at least 14 dead this Saturday.

An explosion of great magnitude shook the Shahid Rajaee port on Saturday, the most important in Iran, located near the city of Bandar Abbas, leaving at least fourteen dead and more than 700 injured, according to Iranian state media.

The detonation, which was preceded by a large fire, caused massive damage to nearby buildings, destroyed vehicles, and was felt up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) away, even on the island of Qeshm.

Videos shared on social media showed a dense column of black and orange smoke rising from the site of the incident, with scenes of people fleeing the fire and others injured in the streets, surrounded by debris and metal scrap.

According to reports, some workers were trapped under collapsed roofs, and rescue teams continue to work in the area to search for survivors.

Local authorities preliminarily attribute the incident to improper handling of hazardous materials. According to crisis management officials, the explosion originated after the fire of several containers storing flammable chemical substances in the port's cargo area.

Some reports suggest that the containers might have contained solid fuel intended for ballistic missiles, according to an analysis by Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime security firm.

The spokesperson for Iran's Crisis Management Organization, Hossein Zafari, confirmed that the fire was caused by improperly stored chemical substances, stating that warnings about the risks had already been issued during previous visits to the port.

However, government spokespeople indicated that it is still not possible to determine the exact cause of the explosion, although they acknowledged that the presence of hazardous chemicals is a central factor.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his regret over the incident, sent the Interior Minister to the area to coordinate the response, and ordered a full government investigation. Port operations were completely halted after the explosion, and authorities began evacuating trucks and personnel from the affected area.

Shahid Rajaee is Iran's largest and most advanced container port, handling much of the country's maritime trade. Its location in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil transportation, underscores the site's importance, both commercially and geopolitically.

The oil facilities were not affected by the incident. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company confirmed that the blast was unrelated to refineries, fuel tanks, or pipelines.

The tragedy occurs at a delicate time for Iran, as it coincides with a third round of nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman. Although there are no indications that the incident is linked to the diplomatic talks, its temporal coincidence has caused speculation.

Tensions with Israel, which in the past has carried out cyberattacks and covert operations against Iranian infrastructure, have also led some observers to consider other hypotheses.

However, so far there is no evidence that Israel is involved in this explosion, and its government has not issued comments on the matter.

Iran has suffered several serious industrial and energy incidents in recent years, many attributed to negligence in the management of hazardous materials. Saturday's explosion reinforces concerns about safety in the country's key facilities, especially in strategic sectors such as energy and armaments.

While rescue efforts continue and the official investigation progresses, the images of destruction and the stories of the victims reflect the high human cost of such incidents. The Iranian government now faces the challenge of clarifying what happened and strengthening security measures in its critical facilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.