Thousands of truck drivers joined dozens of caravans all across Iran to protest the government’s disregard for the life and safety of workers in the wake of the April 26 explosion that leveled much of Sahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas province. At least 57 workers were killed and some 1,200 wounded.
Some caravans were more than 3 miles long. At times bus and van drivers joined in. Many of those killed or wounded were truckers who transport cargo to and from the port, the largest in the country.
The Truckers and Drivers Union of Iran is demanding “accountability, transparency and full compensation — material and moral — for the bereaved families affected by this bitter tragedy.”
Dozens of relatives of those killed or still missing blocked access to the port May 3, demanding government action to identify all the remains.
Another “harsh reality is coming to light: Many of the victims were Baloch laborers who had no birth certificates, no recorded names,” wrote Iranian journalist Setareh Hojjati. “These are workers who came from impoverished villages in Baluchistan, looking for a bite to eat — working for low wages, with no insurance, and no safety.”
Baluchs are an oppressed nationality in Iran and neighboring Pakistan. Tehran denies government IDs to thousands of Baluch, claiming they are foreigners, even though they spend their whole lives in Iran. Contractors who hired them without legal papers are afraid to report them missing, said Hojjati.
The government admits the cargo that exploded was dangerous, but had not been declared as such, violating port rules. But few workers believe its denial that the cargo contained explosive chemicals purchased to make fuel for ballistic missiles the regime uses to target Israel.
The May 4 solidarity convoy in Shahreza, Isfahan, declared, “The blood of the nameless, voiceless worker will not be silenced. As long as the truth remains untold, the roads will not be quiet.”