Iran lawmaker blames deadly port blast on misdeclared cargo and safety failures

The United States warned on Tuesday that Iran's regional activities and nuclear program continue to fuel instability across the Middle East.

Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said Iran’s support for armed militia groups — including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthis — was responsible for spreading insidious violence and undermining security across the region.

“Iran poses a threat to the millions of people who call this region home,” Shea said, accusing Tehran of backing whatshe called “terrorist proxies” in addition to its nuclear pursuits.

Shea described Iran’s nuclear program as “another cornerstone of its global campaign for destabilization,” adding that it threatens not only international security but also the wellbeing of the Iranian people.

Shea added that Washington favors a diplomatic resolution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program but emphasized that the window for negotiations is narrowing.

“President Trump has been clear: There are two paths for Iran to end its nuclear program. The United States prefers a negotiated resolution,” she said. “Time, however, is limited… If Iran refuses to abandon its nuclear weapons program, we must hold it accountable.”

Ahmad Jannati, secretary of Iran’s Guardian Council, called on authorities to act “without leniency” against any failings related to the Bandar Abbas port explosion that killed at least 70 people.

“It is the duty of officials to deal with any negligence in accordance with the law, without compromise,” he said at the start of the council’s Wednesday session, according to state media. He also praised the public’s solidarity with victims and the high turnout for blood donations.

Jannati urged officials to take preventive steps so “such tragic events are not repeated.”

Any opposition to a potential nuclear agreement between Iran and the West is unlikely to gain traction, an Iranian political analyst said, noting that current negotiations are backed by the entire ruling establishment.

“Today, the entirety of the Islamic Republic is negotiating,” said Ahmad Zeidabadi in a recent interview. “If a deal is reached, it cannot be turned into a tool for domestic infighting,” he added, referencing how past nuclear talks were used in factional disputes between conservatives and reformists.

Zeidabadi argued that, unlike the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), this round of diplomacy is not being led by a single administration, but by a collective decision of the Iranian system. “The decision is not left on the shoulders of one person like [former President Hassan] Rouhani.”

Zeidabadi pointed to a recent unprecedented police raid on a group of pro-hijab protesters camped outside the Iranian parliament as a sign that the government is clamping down even on its traditional supporters when they defy state priorities.

“If anyone wants to oppose [a deal], they’ll be treated the same way,” he said.

The protesters, mostly conservative women, were demanding faster enforcement of strict hijab laws but were forcibly dispersed by hundreds of security forces after over 45 days of vigil.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said authorities should prioritize identifying the root causes of the Bandar Abbas port explosion over assigning blame, warning that early finger-pointing could lead to concealment.

“Seeking a scapegoat too soon can encourage people to hide the truth,” he said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He called the storage of large volumes of containers at the port “unacceptable” and urged structural reforms in port and customs management.

At least 70 people were killed in the April 26 blast.

Iran’s Red Crescent said search efforts for the missing continue at the site of the deadly explosion in Bandar Abbas, which killed at least 70 and injured more than 1,200 people.

“The search operation at Shahid Rajaei port continues under difficult conditions until the situation is fully stabilized,” said Mokhtar Salahshour, head of the Red Crescent’s Hormozgan branch, at a mourning ceremony for the victims.