The death toll from the explosion at Shahid Rajai Port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, has risen to 40, Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashuri confirmed. Over 1,000 people were injured, with 194 still hospitalized. Authorities reported that the fire triggered by the explosion remains partially uncontrolled but is expected to be extinguished by tonight. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the site and met with victims’ families. Educational and public activities in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm were suspended due to heavy air pollution. A national day of mourning will be observed tomorrow.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) convened in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other regional leaders. Hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the summit brought together heads of state and government from Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
In his speech, President Erdoğan criticized Israel’s regional actions, stating, “We can neither abandon the Palestinian cause nor remain silent as the Netanyahu administration turns our region into a bloodbath.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended recent Iranian military actions under the UN Charter’s right to self-defense. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, “Currently, Azerbaijan is building new cities and villages on the lands that Armenia turned into ruins, the Great Return program is being implemented.”
Established in 1985 as a continuation of the earlier RCD platform, the ECO aims to boost regional cooperation among its 10 member states. The summit, held every two years, facilitates joint initiatives across sectors such as trade, transport, energy, and health.
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