Seminary-linked outlet: Iran International led with faster, stronger reporting on blast

Iranian environmental experts have warned that the Bandar Abbas port explosion could cause long-term damage to marine ecosystems in the Persian Gulf, citing risks from toxic residues and contaminated runoff.

Arya Vazirzadeh, a professor at Shiraz University, said oil-derived compounds from the blast could persist in marine sediments for years, harming aquatic life and potentially entering the human food chain. He warned that careless cleanup operations could further pollute coastal waters. "Extreme caution must be taken during washing and decontamination to prevent wastewater from entering the sea," he said, according to Payame Ma news outlet.

Vazirzadeh added that hydrocarbons released from the blast could reduce oxygen levels, disrupt fish reproduction, and weaken marine species' immune systems, leading to biodiversity loss.

Separately, environmental activist Iman Ebrahimi said the port's proximity to sensitive mangrove forests and coral reefs increased the risk. He warned that ballast water discharged by ships could introduce invasive species, compounding ecological threats. "The explosion has intensified already existing environmental challenges," Ebrahimi told Payame Ma.

Asked whether Israel should carry out a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, even without American backing, 45% of Israelis believe Israel should do so and 41.5% do not.

Within the Jewish population, support for potential attacks reached 52% among proponents, with 34.5% expressing opposition. A significantly different perspective prevails among Arabs, where 76% are against the attacks and only 9% are supportive.

The data came from the April 2025 Israeli Voice Index, conducted by the Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research.

Additionally, against the backdrop of talks between the United States and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program, 45.5% of Israelis think that Israel's security will be among President Trump's main considerations, while 44% think it will not.

Last month, US President Donald Trump openly threatened to bomb Iran if it did not agree to a new nuclear deal. It has since emboldened Israel to step up its rhetoric.

Earlier this week, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu said, “A real deal that works is one that removes Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons... Dismantle all the infrastructure of Iran’s nuclear program. That is a deal we can live with.”

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the remarks on Tuesday. “Netanyahu, in a desperate attempt to avoid political extinction, has resorted to threats. These worthless tirades are not taken seriously,” he said.

A committee investigating the Bandar Abbas port explosion said initial findings showed failures to follow safety rules and civil defense measures, as well as instances of misdeclared cargo.

The committee said security and judicial authorities were actively working to identify those responsible. "Negligence in observing safety principles and civil defense protocols has been confirmed. Misdeclarations were found in some cases," the committee said in a statement carried by Iranian media.

It added that a definitive cause would require further technical and laboratory analysis and would be announced once complete. The statement emphasized that all those found responsible would be dealt with "without leniency."

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Iranian environmental officials said there has been no detectable leak of hazardous materials into the Persian Gulf following the explosion at Bandar Abbas’s Rajaei port.

Habib Masihi Taziani, head of the Hormozgan province environment department, told ISNA news agency that no significant spill or release of toxic substances had been recorded and that pollution was under control.

He said damage assessments would begin after the crisis management phase ends. Soil pollution monitoring is ongoing, and containment measures such as earthen barriers have been installed to prevent any contamination of coastal waters, he added.

A video obtained by Iran International shows a large crater formed by the explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas, days after the blast that killed at least 70 people.

Another video shows the main explosion site, with the surrounding area described by a witness as "turned into a hill of debris and ruins," Iran International reported.