LONDON, United Kingdom - Over 40 members of the Iranian parliament have signed a motion that seeks to impeach the country's minister for road and urban development in the wake of a recent blast that left a trail of death and destruction in Iran's main trade port. 

Cited by state media, the lawmakers have argued that the minister, Farzaneh Sadegh, and organizations under her authority bear responsibility for perceived negligence that is officially believed to have caused the blast.

The explosion occurred at a transit yard in the key trade hub, Shahid Rajaee Port, on Saturday, claiming over 70 lives so far, with hundreds more injured and several still unaccounted for. 

Iranian authorities have ruled out the possibility of sabotage or involvement by outside elements, but have pointed to negligence and safety lapses. They have promised to determine the precise causes with full transparency amid a wave of nationwide grief and outrage. 

The minister has yet to comment on the impeachment plan, in which the lawmakers have also lambasted her for housing policies and overall mismanagement across the ports sector. 

Tragedy 'instrumentalized' 

Iran's Shipping and Ports Organization is an affiliate of the ministry headed by Farzaneh Sadegh, who is also the sole woman minister in the administration of moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

The main site of the blast belongs to a company under the auspices of the powerful Mostazafan Foundation, controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Earlier this week, the foundation's director shifted the blame, telling Iranian media that it was the Road Ministry, which must be held to account for the incident. 

In line with the parliamentarians' impeachment plans, the conservative camps' outlets have called for the minister to resign, with some demanding her prosecution. 

Pro-Pezeshkian activists and media, by contrast, have largely interpreted the impeachment motion as a factional move, accusing the hardline lawmakers of "instrumentalizing" the port tragedy for political purposes.