Iran's interior minister on Monday blamed "negligence" for a massive explosion that killed 65 people at the country's largest commercial port, with firefighters still battling a blaze at the facility two days later.

The death toll from a major explosion in Iran's most important container port of Bandar Abbas rose to at least 65, with over 1,200 injured, state media said on Monday, as firefighters battled a blaze that Iranian officials said was now under control 48 hours after the start of the fire.

The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran's biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with more than 1,200 people injured.