The Minister of the Interior evokes the track of « neglect », the assessment rises to 65 dead – Liberation

A human error would be the cause of The huge explosion that occurred two days earlier In the largest commercial port in the country, close to the city of Bandar Abbas. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, estimated this Monday, April 28 « That there have been breaches, in particular non-compliance with security measures and negligence »said Eskandar Momeni. « Some culprits have been identified and summoned »he added.

The Iranian supreme guide, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had ordered the opening of an investigation into the incident to determine if the drama was caused by a « neglect » or if he was « intentional ». The cause of the explosion was not immediately determined, but the Port customs indicated that a fire in the storage of dangerous and chemical materials could be the reason.

THE New York Timesquoting an anonymous source close to the guards of the Revolution, the ideological army of Iran, had previously affirmed that the explosion had been caused by sodium perchlorate, a substance entering the composition of solid fuel for missiles. The Ministry of Defense said there was « No cargo (…) for military use in the fire zone » At the time of the explosion. According to the Washington PostIsrael launched a cyber attack in 2020 against the Shahid Rajai port.

The thesis of a sabotage has not yet been mentioned by Tehran, while the explosion has coincided with Oman’s outfit of Oman crucial talks on the Tehran nuclear program between Iran and the United Statesenemies for four decades.

The deflagration, heard tens of kilometers around, occurred on Saturday around a quay of the Shahid Rajai port, where a fifth of world oil production pass and 85 % of goods in Iran.

« The death toll in the tragic fire reached 65 dead »said Mohammad Ashouri on Monday evening, the head of the Hormozgan province, quoted by the state media. The previous assessment reported 46 dead. In addition, the authorities said that more than a thousand people had been injured. But alone « 120 injured are still hospitalized »said the Minister of the Interior earlier on Monday on Monday on Monday, visiting the region.

Firefighters are still trying Monday to overcome the fire that ravages the site. Rescue spokesperson Hossein Zafari deplored the « Verneous winds » who make the operation « difficult » For firefighters. Thick black smoke continues to rise above the containers stacked at Port Shahid Rajaï, according to images of state television broadcast on Monday live. After controlling fire, « We will enter the site cleaning phase and damage assessment »reported state television.

This strategic port is close to the big coastal city of Bandar Abbas (south), on the Strait of Ormuz, a thousand kilometers south of Tehran. The Ministry of Health called the 650,000 inhabitants of the city to stay at home « Until new order » Due to possible toxic smoke. A call for blood donations was launched for the injured.