UAE expresses solidarity with Iran after port explosion

The office of Iran’s prosecutor general on Saturday warned social media users and media outlets against publishing content that could “disrupt the psychological security of society” following the huge deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port.

"The spread of false news and incorrect speculation, which disrupts rescue operations and causes public concern, must be avoided," the judiciary-affiliated Mizan News website quoted the prosecutor general’s office as saying in a statement.

It added that individuals who publish false content, spread lies, or commit insults would face legal action, and prosecutors across the country were instructed to act swiftly, effectively, and preventively against those misusing social media to spread misinformation about the incident.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday both Tehran and Washington showed their determination to make progress in the talks held in Muscat.

However, he said, "sometimes determination alone is not enough, and the disagreements may be so serious that reaching a result becomes impossible."

"Some of the disagreements are serious, and some have their own complexities, but we are hopeful that we can move forward quickly, and the progress so far has been good. I am satisfied with the process and pace of the negotiations," he added.

Araghchi said the two sides were engaged in a "much more serious" round of talks today.

"There are still disagreements, but it was evident that both sides are serious," he said. Araghchi said, "We are very cautiously optimistic."

The Iranian top diplomat ruled out talks on any non-nuclear issues. "We only discuss the nuclear issue and won't accept negotiations on any other topic."

Reuters had earlier quoted an Iranian official as saying that the Iran-US talks are not limited to Tehran’s disputed nuclear program but also include its missile program.

The source said the missile program has become the sticky point in Iran-US talks.

Oman's foreign minister announced that a fourth round of high-level talks will be held on May 3 between Iran and the United States.

US-Iran talks held on Saturday identified a shared aspiration to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.

"Core principles, objectives and technical concerns were all addressed," he said.

The number of fatalities in Saturday's explosion at Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran is in the dozens, local sources told Iran International.

Earlier Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that only four individuals were killed in the blast.

The figures announced officially account only for those who were in the surrounding areas, not at the heart of the explosion, a source familiar with the situation told Iran International.

A source close to the family of one of the victims, who shared images and videos from the site with Iran International, said: "Why does the Islamic Republic insist on claiming that no one was killed or that the number of deaths is low?"

Hundreds have been injured, and hospitals lack the capacity and resources to treat them, a family member of an injured person told Iran International, speaking outside a hospital in Bandar Abbas and sharing video footage.

Another Iran International viewer sent a video showing the body of a coworker lying among trucks at the site.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep regret over the Bandar Abbas port explosion and ordered a full investigation into the cause of the incident, he said in a post on social media on Saturday.

"While expressing deep sorrow and sympathy with the victims in Hormozgan province, I have ordered an investigation into the situation and the causes of the incident," Pezeshkian wrote on X.

He added that Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni had been dispatched as his special representative to "conduct a thorough review of the accident, coordinate relief efforts, and address the needs of the injured."