A suspected chemical explosion and fire rocked a port in southern Iran on Saturday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 750. One analyst speculated the blast was caused by the mishandling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iran’s missile program.
The blast occurred as Iran and U.S. officials met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran’s advancing nuclear program. There was no indication of a link between the two events.
The talks represent a milestone in the fraught relations between the two nations over Iran’s program, now enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Saturday’s discussions were the first at the expert level, and they focused on details that could make or break an accord.
