Khamenei remains silent on port explosion after 24 hours
More than 24 hours after the deadly explosion, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not issued any condolence message. His silence contrasts with his earlier move to declare five days of national mourning instantly following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Iran’s government declared Monday a National Day of Mourning following the deadly explosion at Rajaei port, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Sunday.
She said President Masoud Pezeshkian was personally overseeing the investigation into the incident. Hormozgan province, where Rajaei port is located, had earlier declared three days of mourning.
Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), is facing accusations of undermining the government’s diplomatic efforts with the United States, according to an analysis by KhabarOnline published on Sunday.
As indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue under the authorization of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, KhabarOnline said IRIB and its reporters have increasingly aired false claims and anti-diplomacy narratives, challenging the official diplomatic line pursued by President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration.
The analysis argues that since the election of the current government, the broadcaster has become a platform for opponents, using its platform to act against government decisions. This includes allegedly hosting critics of the US talks and disseminating unsubstantiated details of the discussions.
The analysis specifically mentions a state TV expert who reportedly drew a parallel between the Iran-US talks and the Northern Ireland peace process, suggesting the negotiations could lead to social divisions and even civil conflict in Iran.
KhabarOnline attributed the opposition within IRIB to figures close to Iran’s so-called hardline "shadow government," identifying Peyman Jebelli, the head of IRIB, and Vahid Jalili, brother of senior conservative politician Saeed Jalili, as key figures shaping the network’s editorial stance against the government.
IRIB head Peyman Jebelli (left), and Vahid Jalili, brother of senior conservative politician Saeed Jalili
Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad expressed solidarity with the Islamic Republic after the explosion at Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas.
Hamas said it stood with Iran’s "leadership, government, and people" and offered condolences to the families of the victims, as reported by the state media.
Islamic Jihad also extended its condolences to the Supreme Leader and people of Iran.
The explosion at Rajaei Port occurred in the yard of Sina Company, affiliated with Bonyad Mostazafan, a powerful economic conglomerate controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader, parliament's National Security Committee member Ali Khezrian said on Sunday.
He questioned what safety improvements had been made since a 2019 incident involving a sunken Indian ship under Sina’s management.
Khezrian said it must be determined how much safety failure at the company contributed to the disaster and why preventive oversight was lacking.
More than half of Iran's port activity remains offline following a major explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian port authority data.
The explosion on Saturday which has devastated Rajaei Port, the country's largest container port near Bandar Abbas, has halted 57% of the country's nominal loading and unloading capacity.
