The explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port, which killed dozens and injured more than 1,000, originated at a facility linked to a powerful charitable foundation controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office, according to the Associated Press.
The news outlet said the facility is owned by Bonyad Mostazafan, a U.S.-sanctioned conglomerate used to enrich Khamenei’s office, “reward his political allies and persecute the regime’s enemies.”
According to AP, Bonyad Mostazafan is one of Iran’s largest economic entities, with holdings in industries including mining, transportation, energy, and steel.
A 2008 U.S. report estimated its assets represented 10% of Iran’s Gross Domestic Product. The foundation was established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to manage seized assets from the former regime and religious minorities.
Meanwhile, Iran’s interior minister blamed negligence and safety failures for Saturday’s explosion.
Customs officials said the blast was caused by a fire involving hazardous chemicals stored in the port area. However, no Iranian official has provided an explanation for what material caused such an intense detonation at the site.
According to a report by The New York Times, the explosion involved sodium perchlorate, a chemical used in solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
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Sodium perchlorate, used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel, exploded in an Iranian port. A source close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told The New York Times that the substance was probably stored in a warehouse in violation of storage conditions. pic.twitter.com/4dCZ29OP2P— Sander (@SanderRegter) April 27, 2025
Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaeinik denied earlier this week that missile fuel had been imported through the port.
Iranian officials said 70 people died in Saturday’s explosion, but the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) claims the actual death toll is closer to 250. The group also estimates 1,500 people were injured.
“The true death toll is several times higher than officially reported,” Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s president-elect, said in a statement. She accused the regime of suppressing information and sending security forces to control the area rather than rescue the injured.
