Explosions Heard on Iran’s Qeshm Island as State Media Reports Blasts in the Strait of Hormuz

Explosions were heard on Saturday evening in several areas of southern Iran, including Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state television reported. The cause of the blasts was not clear, and Iranian officials had not confirmed any missile strikes.

Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, said witnesses reported projectiles striking the Suza area of Qeshm after the sound of an aircraft overhead, according to The Insight International. The semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing preliminary information, said two missiles had struck the island without naming who fired them or giving details of damage.

State television also reported explosions in the Suza area and said there were no casualties. Tasnim cited a source as saying the explosions on Qeshm were not related to missile strikes, Reuters reported, while the Fars news agency said explosions were also heard in the port city of Bandar Khamir and might be linked to warning shots toward the strait.

Tankers on fire and a disabled vessel

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said two oil tankers were on fire after hitting mines as they tried to pass through what it called an “unauthorized route” in the strait, Reuters reported. It was not immediately clear whether the tanker incidents were linked to the explosions heard on shore.

The United States military said on Saturday evening that its forces disabled a commercial vessel that tried to pass through the American blockade of Iran. United States Central Command said one of its aircraft fired at the vessel’s stern and disabled the ship after it tried to violate the blockade.

A war now in its ninth month

The reported explosions came days after the United States carried out limited strikes on Qeshm earlier in the week, after what Washington described as Iranian fire at an American aircraft. A United States official said those strikes were limited and did not amount to a resumption of large combat operations.

Iranian state television suggested the explosions might be linked to Iranian military activity in the strait, where commercial shipping has faced repeated attacks since the war between the United States and Iran began in February. Iran has said it would answer new attacks by striking American and Israeli targets in neighboring countries.

Qatar’s International Media Office denied reports that Washington and Tehran had failed to reach an agreement to end the conflict, calling those claims false and saying mediation efforts continue.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters via SRN News and The Insight International.