A massive explosion at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday has killed at least 25 people and injured more than 750.
Firefighters are still battling to extinguish the blaze, which officials say took place in an area where chemical materials were stored.
It happened in the Shahid Rajee section of Iran’s largest port, situated on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The explosion shattered windows for several kilometres in the surrounding area.
Of the 750+ people injured, nearly 200 are still receiving medical treatment.
The exact cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, with a government spokesperson warning against “premature speculation.” In recent years, Iran has suffered a number of disasters caused by poorly maintained infrastructure, including an explosion at a coal mine and a number of refinery fires.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation.
The fresh disaster came as the US and Iran concluded a third round of talks on Saturday aimed at imposing limitations on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The talks took place in Oman between teams led by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“The talks in Muscat were positive and productive. There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal,” a senior U.S. official said in a statement sent to reporters.
The Iranian Foreign Minister said the talks were “much more serious than in the past,” and that “some differences are serious, some less so. I’m hopeful about reaching a deal, but still cautious.”
The talks are said to have lasted four hours. Details of the discussions have not been released, but Oman’s Foreign Minister said “core principles, objectives and technical concerns were all addressed.”
The next round is scheduled to take place in Europe next week.
In an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, President Trump said he thinks he can make a deal with Iran “without the attack.”
“I hope we can,” the President added.
President Trump also said he was open to meeting with Iran’s leaders.