Day Shahid Rajaei Port Death Toll Climbs as Nation Mourns

The aftermath of the Shahid Rajaei Port explosion dominated coverage as the death toll steadily climbed from 14 to 40 throughout the day, with over 1,000 injured. By morning, officials reported 80% of the fire contained while port operations partially resumed. President Pezeshkian visited Bandar Abbas, touring the disaster site and visiting victims, while questioning why containers remained in storage for months. The government declared Monday a national day of mourning.

By afternoon, Supreme Leader Khamenei ordered security and judicial authorities to investigate possible negligence or deliberate action. Defense Ministry officials explicitly denied the presence of military cargo in the explosion area, countering speculation about the cause. Meanwhile, nuclear negotiations context continued in background reporting, with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stating Russia would not interfere in Iran-US talks but remained available to assist if needed.