—❗️🇮🇷 NEW: A state of emergency will be declared in Bandar Abbas due to the possible spread of hazardous substances due to the fire in Shahid Rajaee Port

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇸🇦 Saudi Foreign Ministry: 'Saudi Arabia is willing to provide any help or assistance that Iran may need'

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 WATCH: The fire still rages on

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇷 NEW: It is likely that large amounts of sulfur have been released into the air, causing difficulties breathing, irritation to eyes, and inflammation of the lungs

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇷 NEW: The fire is getting worse

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: 8 people confirmed dead so far

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: The Minister of Roads, Farzaneh Sadeq, visited the site of the fires

The chief of the local firefighting department complains they don't have enough equipment to extinguish the fire.

@Middle_East_Spectator

The situation is very bad.

The fire is spreading to other areas of the port, including areas with flammable containers, and more explosions are likely to happen.

—❗️🇮🇷 BREAKING: The order has been issued to completely evacuate the entire port and all its surrounding facilities

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇷 NEW: State of emergency has officially been declared in Bandar Abbas

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: The authorities have ordered trucks with sand to create an embankment surrounding the site of the fire, to contain the spread

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NOTE: While speculation at this stage is pointless, it is at least suspicious that the fires in Shahid Rajaee Port were present at two different sides of the main port road

How did the fire manage to spread from one part of the port to another, or were there several simultaneous explosions? The second option would indicate sabotage. We have to wait for the investigation and see.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— I also refer the public to this statement made by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi 3 days ago, where he warned of any sabotage attempts by Israel to derail the US-Iran talks.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 Headline of 'Kayhan', conservative-aligned Iranian newspaper:

'Severe explosion in Shahid Rajaee port: Accident or sabotage?'

However, the subtext of the newspaper then continues to talk about the possibility of an accident as the most likely scenario.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NOTE: Any reports about 'missile propellant' being imported from China through Shahid Rajaee port are false.

Military imports and exports are done through smaller ports and specific sections that are under strict military control and surveillance.

Additionally, anyone who claims to be able to recognize the type of gas by its colour, for example stating that 'this gas is Nitrogen Tetroxide, used in missiles', is wrong.

In chemistry, any kind of incomplete combustion of a material can create a brown / orange gas known as Nitrogen Dioxide, and this gas can arise from the explosion of Ammonium Nitrate in fertilizer (like in Beirut, 2020) or any other material that was incompletely combusted.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: Conditions in some critical parts of the port have been stabilized, and loading of containers has been ordered to continue where it is possible

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇵🇰/🇮🇳 BREAKING: Clashes between India and Pakistan on the Line of Contact in the Leepa Valley, Kashmir region

Small arms fire can be seen and heard, and this is the second night of limited clashes this week, in the same location as two days ago.

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇵🇰/🇮🇳 BREAKING: Clashes between India and Pakistan on the Line of Contact in the Leepa Valley, Kashmir, are intensifying

@Middle_East_Spectator

— This probably won't lead anywhere, because clashes are usually unintended, so there is no operational objective.

One soldier, eager to start a war, empties his magazine into the line of contact. Then the other side shoots back, this goes back and forth for a few hours, and it's over.

If either side wanted to start a war, they'd launch an overwhelming offensive, including artillery and airstrikes. You'd know. Clashes rarely spark a full-blown war.

@Middle_East_Spectator

—🇺🇸/🇾🇪 NEW: American air strikes have targeted the 'Galaxy Leader', the Israeli-linked vessel captured by Yemeni Armed Forces.

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇳/🇵🇰 NEW: The clashes have extended to multiple sectors of the Line of Contact

@Middle_East_Spectator