Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, May 5: Iranian authorities have revised the death toll from last month's devastating explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port, lowering it from 70 to 57, while confirming the arrest of two individuals — including a government official — in connection with the incident.

The updated toll includes 46 identified victims and 11 people still unaccounted for, according to Mojtaba Qahremani, Chief Justice of Hormozgan province. The initial figure was adjusted after forensic teams determined that some recovered body parts belonged to the same individuals. A task force has been set up to continue efforts to locate the missing.

The April 26 blast, which sparked a massive fire, left over 1,200 people injured, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported. Search and rescue operations concluded on Sunday.

Authorities have linked the explosion to significant safety oversights. A provincial crisis management review cited inadequate safety and passive defence measures at the site. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni also blamed “negligence” as a key factor in the disaster.

Shahid Rajaee Port, located in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, is the country’s main maritime gateway, processing the bulk of its container traffic and over half of all trade.