Iran does not need advanced centrifuges for civilian use, US senator says

Iran’s health ministry said the Bandar Abbas port explosion has caused widespread psychological trauma and that crisis response units have begun interventions in hospitals and affected communities.

Mohammadreza Shalbafan, head of the mental health department at the Ministry of Health, said early psychological support is already underway. “Primary services started in hospitals, but main interventions will begin once the physical crisis is stabilized and the depth of psychological harm is clearer,” he told ISNA on Wednesday.

the official said the psychological toll extends beyond victims and their families, with signs of anxiety and stress reported across the broader population. “This type of disaster affects not just those injured or bereaved, but can trigger broader emotional strain in society,” he added.

A senior Iranian cleric said those killed in the Rajaei port explosion were workers who served the country’s economy and would be rewarded by God as if they were fighting in a holy cause.

“The people who lost their lives in the Shahid Rajaei port blast were striving for their livelihoods and the nation’s economy. God will grant them the reward of those who struggle in His path,” said Ali Hosseini, Friday prayer imam of Dayyer in southern Iran, according to Hawzah News Agency.

Speaking at a memorial service Tuesday night, Hosseini warned against rumor-spreading in the aftermath of the explosion and accused some of seeking to “frighten the public.” He urged the public to remain vigilant against false information and divisive narratives.

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Iran’s judiciary said results from its ongoing investigation into the deadly explosion and fire at Bandar Abbas’s Rajaei port will be released once expert reviews are complete.

“Extensive technical investigations are still underway, and whatever conclusion is reached will be shared with the public,” judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Jahangir said the judiciary launched the probe immediately after the incident, following an order from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to investigate any negligence or deliberate wrongdoing.

He added that prosecutors had filed cases against several individuals accused of spreading false information online, warning that media activity should not “undermine public mental security” or “play into the hands of enemies.”

Iran will hold a meeting with representatives from three European countries (the E3) – Britain, France, and Germany – prior to the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, which is scheduled to take place in Rome.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, announced that the next round of discussions with the US would be held in the Italian capital Rome as facilitated by Oman, the mediating country.

Araghchi added that a separate meeting with the European trio is planned for Friday.

Iran’s government said it delayed releasing full details of the Bandar Abbas port explosion to ensure unified messaging and avoid confusion, but denied imposing a news blackout.

“The decision was not about blocking information. It was about managing the flow to avoid conflicting figures being reported,” government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said, adding that “a single voice” was needed in the early aftermath.

Mohajerani acknowledged that authorities asked provincial and crisis officials not to disclose details until the cause of the blast was clarified, but stressed that the government was committed to transparency. “We have no secrets from the people. We are obligated to share the facts because the people are the true stakeholders of this government,” she said.

She also said identifying and punishing those responsible for the explosion was a priority and that rescue efforts and fire containment had taken precedence in the early days. “As soon as I receive reliable information, I will announce it,” she added.

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