The Iranian Defense Ministry said that there were no military cargoes for export or import at the "Shahid Rajai" port, which was rocked by a powerful explosion yesterday, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, it became clear that the death toll in the explosion has now reached 28 and the injured are over 1,100.
Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik today denied rumors that there were military cargoes at the port and described these claims as "targeted disinformation and propaganda" spread by foreign media. "The investigation and documentary evidence show that there were and are no import or export cargoes (…) intended for military use in the area of the port affected by the fire," Talaei-Nik said. The military spokesman added that authorities would announce the cause of the fire "at an appropriate time".
President Masoud Pezeshkian today contacted Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who is at the scene of the incident, to get an update, IRNA added.
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said the situation was now under control and 80 percent of the fire had been extinguished. Mohajerani added that 1,139 people sought help at health centers, with some of them being airlifted to the cities of Shiraz and Larestan for further treatment.
Minister of Health and Medical Education Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi said the situation was under control thanks to immediate actions taken, including the provision of blood, medical supplies and hospital beds.
The head of the Red Crescent Society, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, said that there were currently 300 wounded people in hospitals in the city of Bandar Abbas, most of whom were expected to be discharged soon. Some of the wounded had been sent to Tehran for treatment. Kolivand noted that search and rescue operations were continuing.