Explosions were reported late Monday night in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, raising fresh tensions near the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the United States confirmed carrying out what it described as defensive military actions in southern Iran.
Iranian state and semi-official media said multiple explosions were heard across Bandar Abbas and nearby coastal regions, including Sirik and Jask, areas located close to the vital maritime corridor used for global energy shipments.
The cause of the blasts was not immediately clear, and Iranian authorities did not issue a unified official explanation.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that loud explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas for reasons that remained unknown.
Mehr News Agency later said the situation in the city was under control and urged calm, adding that the sounds appeared to originate east of the port city. No formal statement was released by Iranian military or government officials.
Other Iranian outlets provided varying accounts. Tasnim News Agency reported that at least three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, while Fars News Agency said residents in Sirik and Jask also reported similar sounds.
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Iranian outlet Tabnak claimed that a missile may have struck the runway at Bandar Abbas airport, though this was not confirmed by official sources.
As uncertainty grew on the ground, the United States acknowledged military activity in the region. US Central Command said American forces conducted defensive strikes in southern Iran within the past 24 hours.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted Iranian missile launch sites and naval vessels that were allegedly preparing to lay sea mines.
US officials said the operation was carried out to protect American forces and regional security while maintaining restraint under the existing ceasefire framework. They added that no US personnel were injured during the operation.
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CENTCOM did not state that US forces had come under direct attack, describing the strikes instead as preventive action against perceived imminent threats.
Additional reports suggested a possible naval confrontation. Al Jazeera cited an Iranian source claiming that heavy gunfire erupted near Bandar Abbas after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a vessel at sea.
The source alleged that US fighter jets later struck IRGC naval boats in the Gulf, resulting in the deaths of several IRGC Navy personnel. These claims have not been independently verified.
The developments come amid continued low-level skirmishes following the announcement of a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump has previously said that similar incidents would not necessarily be treated as violations of the ceasefire, signaling Washington’s intent to avoid escalation.
While the US has released limited operational details, officials say the administration remains focused on advancing negotiations and stabilizing the situation in the region.
With conflicting reports and no official confirmation from Tehran on the cause of the explosions, the situation around Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz remains fluid and closely watched
