The death toll from a major explosion in Iran's most important container port of Bandar Abbas rose to at least 70, 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.

A massive explosion rocked a port in southern Iran believed to be linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, as the U.S. and Iran held a third round of nuclear talks.

MUSCAT, Oman —Iran and the United States held their first technical-level talks on Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program Saturday, a more complex phase of their high-stakes negotiations.

The United States and Iran on Saturday concluded their third round of "indirect" nuclear talks mediated by host Oman with both sides seeing progress in reaching a deal.

Leaders from the United States and Iran painted a positive but cautious picture of talks between the nations over Iran’s nuclear program Saturday, after the third phase of the discussions wrapped up in Oman.