Following the massive explosion at Iran's largest commercial port in southern Iran, authorities denied the presence of any shipments containing materials for manufacturing missile fuel at the port at the time of the incident, following reports that a military shipment was responsible.

Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei Nik denied reports of missile fuel being imported through the port.

"According to investigations and documents, no imported or exported cargo was of military use in the area of the fire at Rajaee Port," he told state television, describing foreign reports as baseless.

For his part, MP Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, published a statement on the X platform, saying, "According to initial reports, what burned in the Rajaee Port incident was not related to the country's defense domain."

Rezaei did not provide any additional details on this issue.

The explosion coincided with a meeting between Iran and the United States in the Sultanate of Oman as part of the third round of negotiations on Iran's accelerating nuclear program.

State media reported that the death toll had risen to 40, with at least 10 identified, while the number of injured exceeded 800.

Private security firm Ambrey indicated that the port received chemicals used in the manufacture of rocket fuel in March, as part of a shipment of ammonium perchlorate sent by China to Iran via two ships, according to what the Financial Times revealed last January.

The New York Times, citing a source close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, reported that the explosive material was sodium perchlorate, a key component of solid rocket fuel. The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Ambrey indicated that these materials were intended to replenish Iran's stockpile of missile fuel, which was consumed during the recent attacks on Israel during the war in Gaza. She said, "Information indicates that mishandling of the solid fuel shipment intended for Iranian ballistic missiles led to the fire."

Ship tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press showed that one of the ships suspected of carrying the chemicals was in the area last month, although Iran has not officially acknowledged receiving the shipment.