Iran says reason for deadly port blast in under investigation

Описание: (28 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY: NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN, VOA PERSIAN, MANOTO TV, IRAN INTERNATIONAL

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ASSOCIATED PRESS - NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN, VOA PERSIAN, MANOTO TV, IRAN INTERNATIONAL
Tehran, Iran - 28 April 2025
1. Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman, arriving for briefing
2. Mid of media
3. Pan of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English Esmail Baghaei, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"Yes, what I can say is that it (the blast) happened at the same time (as talks with the U.S were happening in Oman). The reason, the cause is under investigation. We will not pre-judge. So we will wait for our responsible authorities to tell us what happened."
5. Mid of media
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Esmail Baghaei, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"As a matter of principle, enrichment is and has to be part and parcel of any fair and realistic agreement that we may entertain with other partners. I think this is not only a political position by Iran, it is basically an inalienable right enshrined under the NPT and in accordance with the international law. So that's something that we will certainly stress on in any negotiations."
7. Wide of briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Esmail Baghaei, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman:
(Answering question on whether Europe being left out of the talks was Iran's or the US' decision?)
"None. It was their own choice."
9. Baghaei leaving
STORYLINE:
Iran on Monday said the cause behind the deadly blast in a southern port city in the country was still being investigated.

The death toll from a huge explosion that rocked one of Iran’s main ports rose Monday to 46 people, authorities said.

Iranian state television quoted the toll from the blast at Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, citing local officials.

A fire still burned at the site, some two days after the initial explosion Saturday, just as Iran began a third round of negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Over 1,000 people suffered injuries in the blast.

Authorities still haven’t offered an explanation for the explosion.

"The reason, the cause is under investigation. We will not pre-judge," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Bgahaei, said during a briefing.

"So we will wait for our responsible authorities to tell us what happened," he added.

Baghaei also said uranium enrichment is part of any fair agreement with the US.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached.

Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran’s program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Iran has insisted that keeping its enrichment is key.

But U.S envoy Steve Witkoff has muddied the issue by first suggesting in a television interview that Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later saying that all enrichment must stop.

The demand that all enrichment stop also has been repeated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

AP video shot by: Saeed Samadi


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