A devastating explosion at a major port facility in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province has claimed at least 40 lives and left more than 1,000 injured, according to Iranian state media. The blast, which occurred on April 26, prompted President Masoud Pezeshkian to declare a national day of mourning and initiate a full government investigation into the cause of the incident.

The explosion took place at a port situated along the critical Strait of Hormuz, just 20 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, Iran’s principal southern port city and the location of the Iranian Navy’s main operational base. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime corridors, responsible for the passage of a significant portion of global oil shipments, heightening concerns about the potential geopolitical and economic ramifications of the incident.

While the cause of the explosion remains officially undetermined, early reports indicate that a fire broke out in containers holding highly flammable materials, including pitch and various chemicals, contributing to the rapid escalation of the blaze. Hossein Sajedinia, head of Iran’s National Disaster Management Organization, reported that firefighting teams from five provinces were deployed to the site and worked around the clock to bring the flames under control. By April 27, authorities indicated that the fire was largely contained.

Governor of Hormozgan province, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, told Iran’s IRIB news agency that while the majority of the injured sustained minor........

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