Tudeh Party of Iran: Message of condolences for the victims of the explosion in Bandar Abbas

Message of Condolences of the Tudeh Party of Iran to the Families of the Bereaved and Victims of the Explosion at Rajaee Quay in Bandar Abbas:

Based on reports from domestic and foreign media, around noon on Saturday, 26 April 2025, a fire broke out at Rajaee Quay, located 23 kilometres west of Bandar Abbas. The blaze initially started in a limited number of containers. It quickly spread to other containers within the area under the supervision of “Sina Gostaresh Company”, leading to powerful explosions. The resulting sound waves and air pressure were audible and felt within a 50-kilometer radius.

According to the head of the Red Crescent Society, several rapid response teams, including rescue and relief teams and Red Crescent ambulances, were dispatched to the scene at the beginning of the incident to provide aid. The firefighting and rescue operations continued into the following day. Due to the severity of the incident, many of the injured were transferred by airplane and helicopter to hospitals in major cities in the region. Furthermore, as the fire spread to thousands of containers, the smoke from the blaze caused severe air pollution in Bandar Abbas and the surrounding villages, consequently leading to the closure of all schools, universities, and government offices. The release of gases and polluting particles threatens the health of residents, especially children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses.

The Tudeh Party of Iran expresses its sincere condolences to the families and survivors of the victims of this catastrophe and wishes a swift recovery to those injured in this heartbreaking incident.

Regarding the cause of this disaster, which has so far resulted in the deaths of over 46 people and injuries to more than 1,200 workers, employees, and heavy vehicle drivers, various speculations have been raised. We must await transparent and independent investigations and reports to determine the precise causes of this tragedy and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. However, the scale and extent of the destruction indicate that the most basic international laws and regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous goods and the regulations pertaining to the storage of flammable materials at Rajaee Quay have been disregarded.

According to the statements of Saeed Jafari, CEO of Sina Marine and Port Services Development Company – the company within whose exclusive area this terrible incident occurred – "this accident happened following a false declaration regarding imported cargo; highly dangerous shipments were imported and stored under the guise of ordinary goods." In an interview with Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), he stated: "According to international regulations for the transport of dangerous goods, such shipments must be packaged and labelled in accordance with the relevant requirements before entering customs."

The available evidence and published news indicate that this catastrophe was not an isolated event but rather an example of the disregard for transportation laws, chemical storage practices, and workplace safety regulations in the Islamic Republic.

In addition to a thorough investigation into the causes of the Rajaee Quay disaster, it must be emphasized that the primary authorities responsible for this incident are the Supreme Leader's government, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), and the rent-seeking companies affiliated with government institutions that control the management of the Rajaee Port Special Economic Zone.

The public's sympathy and the widespread and numerous presence of citizens at blood donation centres and their solidarity with the bereaved families demonstrate the humanitarian spirit and the society's concern for the difficulties faced by those affected by this painful incident.

The Tudeh Party of Iran once again offers its condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in this catastrophe and calls for independent and transparent investigations into the causes of this event.

The Tudeh Party of Iran

28 April 2025