🚨As Iranian negotiators opened talks with the US in Oman, a massive explosion rocked Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port — which handles over 55% of Iran’s exports & imports, 70% of its port transit & 90% of its container cargo. Many are comparing it to the 2020 Beirut blast. 🧵>>>

2/ Port operations at Shahid Rajaee have been temporarily halted. Officials say emergency teams rushed to the scene to battle the fire and prevent further injuries. They say operations will resume once the fire is fully extinguished and the area is declared safe.

3/ Over 500 people have been confirmed injured, with the number of fatalities still unknown. Videos from the scene show widespread destruction: damaged buildings, wrecked cars, and shattered infrastructure across the port and surrounding areas.

4/ The explosion erupted around 12:10 pm local time, with the blast heard across the city of Bandar Abbas. Initial reports say it started in a customs area storing flammable materials. Officials say nearby oil facilities & pipelines were not affected.

5/ Videos from the Shahid Rajaee Port in Iran's Bandar Abbas show the explosion from the sea, with helicopters deployed to battle the massive fire.

6/ Local authorities are urging citizens to donate blood as the number of victims from the explosion continues to rise. There is an urgent need, especially for negative blood types, to support overwhelmed medical centers in Bandar Abbas.

7/ According to local relief officials, four people have been confirmed dead so far, with over 500 wounded, based on the latest official update.

8/ Iran’s President Pezeshkian says he has "issued an order to investigate the situation and causes of the incident." Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadeghi to coordinate the response & support the victims.

9/ A line of people has formed to donate blood for the victims of the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Officials have confirmed at least 4 dead so far, with over 500 wounded.

10/ Meanwhile, in Israeli Telegram channels with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, there’s open sadistic glee at the destruction and deaths in Bandar Abbas. A prominent Israeli analyst wrote: “I’m interested in seeing Araghchi’s face in the negotiating room right now.”

11/ Another channel with 150k+ subscribers asked: “Which explosion was more impressive — Beirut or Bandar Abbas?” Laughing, heart, and champagne emojis flood the comments on these posts.

12/ To grasp how vital Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas is: it’s the 2nd-largest container port in the Middle East. Measured by TEU (the size of a standard shipping container), the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port ranks first with 14M containers, while Iran’s Rajaee Port handles 6M.

13/ Some Iranian outlets report the Bandar Abbas port explosion appeared to hit 3 areas: 1) main blast at Sina warehouse, 2) second fire in the container yard, 3) third blast/fire at Onik warehouse. Multiple sites hit could suggest sabotage, though this remains unconfirmed.

14/ The fire at Bandar Abbas port is still burning into the night, with heavy, highly pollutant smog choking the air. The death toll has risen to 14, with over 750 reported injured.

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