British chemist suspects missile propellant after initial ammonium nitrate theory
A leading British chemist has cast doubt on Iran’s official explanation for the deadly explosion at its largest port, saying the blast likely involved ammonium perchlorate—a highly volatile missile propellant.
Andrea Sella, a chemistry professor at University College London, said the April 26 explosion at the Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas was far too intense to have been caused by sodium perchlorate alone, as suggested by Iranian state media.
“Sodium perchlorate, on its own, to my knowledge, is not explosive and certainly doesn't detonate like that,” Sella told Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).
He initially suspected ammonium nitrate, but now believes ammonium perchlorate—a dual oxidizer and reductant used in solid rocket fuels—is the more likely culprit due to the explosion’s intensity and visible smoke signature.
Video footage from the scene showed a distinct orange-brown plume, consistent with nitrogen dioxide, and black smoke in the early stages of the fire, indicating the combustion of organic materials. “The flame turns a bright orange as the fire intensifies, suggesting sodium is also involved,” Sella added.
Iranian officials have said the blast originated from chemical containers but have not disclosed the substances involved.
The New York Times, citing a source with ties to the Revolutionary Guards, reported the presence of sodium perchlorate, while also saying that the cargo's documentation contained “false statements” that misrepresented its hazardous nature.
“Having a single container of a material like that in the middle of a container port is absolutely shocking,” Sella said. Most international ports enforce strict segregation and safety measures for explosive materials, he added.
