Port of Bandar Abbas Explosion: Who Is Blocking Russia's "North-South" Corridor?
April 28, 2025
18:43
Consequences of the explosion at the port in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Photo.
In an article written by commentator Lyubov Stepushova of Pravda, it is suggested that Russia should participate in the investigation of the situation surrounding the explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, which is part of the "North-South" international transport corridor.
On April 26, a major explosion occurred at the port complex in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas. According to the latest data, the explosion claimed 120 lives and left more than 1,200 people injured. The economic loss is estimated at up to $2 billion. By Sunday, April 27, according to Iran's Interior Minister Esmaeil Moemeni, about 80% of the fire had been brought under control, but new explosions reignited the flames.
Official spokesman of the Iranian Defense Ministry Reza Tarainik stated that there were no military products in the port, and no military cargo was being imported or exported through this port. The official Iranian media pointed out that the explosion was likely caused by a fire in a warehouse containing hazardous and chemical materials, due to improper storage of these materials.
American media reported that the cause of the incident was an explosion of "rocket fuel," allegedly from related countries, particularly ammonium perchlorate. According to their data, this substance is "enough to fill approximately 250 medium-range rockets like 'Haebar-Shikan' or their Houthi equivalents."
Iranian parliament member Mohammad Saleh Jafari accused Israel of orchestrating this terrorist attack, based on the fact that the explosion occurred in four different locations. Considering that the port is also the location of Iran's main naval base and that Iran and the United States are negotiating, which is not favored by Israel, these accusations are not without merit.
For Russia, Bandar Abbas Port is a key node of the "North-South" international transport corridor, and the Russian government hopes to use this corridor to bypass the Suez Canal (to save time and money) as well as Western sanctions. Russia has invested $1.3 billion in modernizing the Rasht-Astara railway, which will connect Russia, Azerbaijan, and existing railways in Iran. For Russia, this port is a geopolitical asset, with hundreds of thousands of tons of goods passing through annually: oil, equipment, grain.
Therefore, not only Israel may have an interest in this terrorist attack, but Western intelligence agencies, especially those of the UK, may also have motives. Moreover, if we link this event to the tense situation along the India-Pakistan border, the security of the "North-South" corridor route via Afghanistan (into Pakistan) is now also in serious doubt. Such coincidences are unlikely to be accidental.
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, ordered an investigation and stated that "all authorities must be held accountable for this disaster." However, we all know how Iran previously investigated the death of its former president - the conclusion was made to avoid causing unrest for anyone. Let's see what happens this time. If there is no international investigation into the cause of the explosion and no safety inspection of the port, the entire "North-South" corridor will be at risk. And if these works are carried out, it means that Tehran and Moscow are aware of the threat this poses not only to their economies but also to their geopolitical status.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498555971845767691/
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