WATCH: Explosion at Iran's largest port strikes devastating blow to Revolutionary Guards - Iran expert says

The massive explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday dealt a serious blow to the Iranian regime, according to Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).

The explosion and raging fire reportedly tied to a shipment of chemical material used in missile propellant, killed 25 people and injuring 1139.

The deadly event came at a highly sensitive moment, coinciding with the third round of talks between Iran and the United States in Oman, aimed at addressing Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

In an interview with Maariv on Sunday, Sabti emphasized the port’s significance, saying it "is the most important port for the Iranian regime."

He explained that its importance stems "not only because it's the largest port in Iran, but because the hub is used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to transfer weapons to terror organizations like Hezbollah and the Houthis, and to illegally transfer oil to China." "Various tankers operate there, disappearing and reappearing, essentially collecting oil from the port or bringing in goods that Iran needs," Sabti continued.

"This location and this port are extremely critical to the survival of the Iranian regime," he stressed. However, Sabti was cautious about determining the cause behind the explosion.

"It’s still very early to know whether it was an accident or deliberate sabotage," Sabti said. "Personally, I find it hard to believe it was sabotage, especially at this time, given the ongoing talks between Iran and the United States," he added.

Addressing claims that Israel was responsible for the blast, Sabti noted, "It's common and widespread for some Iranian regime-affiliated figures to blame Israel. Officially, however, the regime is refraining from doing so, possibly because it’s not in their interest at this time."