Explosions were heard early on Sunday in southern Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz.
The sounds came from Qeshm Island and the port of Jask. Local media linked the noise to activity in the strait.
Iran's navy says two oil tankers struck sea mines near the strait. Official explanations for the blasts are still not clear.
Key points
- Explosions were heard early Sunday on Qeshm Island and at Jask port in southern Iran.
- Iran's navy says two oil tankers hit sea mines near the Strait of Hormuz.
- US President Donald Trump confirmed limited American action on Qeshm Island.
- Iranian explanations are incomplete, and the exact damage is still unclear.
Where are these places, and why do they matter?
Qeshm is Iran's largest island. It sits inside the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the sea passage that oil tankers use.
Jask is a port on the Gulf of Oman, east of the strait. It is the end point of a pipeline of about 1,000 kilometres.
The pipeline was built as an alternative route for oil exports. But actual exports through Jask have been very limited.
What did Iran's navy say about the tankers?
The navy said two tankers passed through an unsafe part of the strait.
State television, citing the navy, said their navigation systems were switched off.
The ships suffered severe damage and stopped after hitting sea mines.
Mines are explosives under the water that blow up when a ship touches them.
What about the American action in the area?
US President Donald Trump has confirmed limited American action in the area.
He said American forces carried out minor strikes.
He said they destroyed a recently built Iranian air-defence system on Qeshm Island within about 15 minutes.
Reports say this followed Iranian forces threatening or firing at American aircraft.
Separately, the US Central Command, the American military command for the region, said on Saturday it disabled a cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.
The ship, M/V Huda, was hit on November 7.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The command said the crew ignored warnings and tried to break a US naval blockade against Iran.
It said it had asked the crew to leave the targeted sections to avoid loss of life.
What is still unclear, and what happens next?
Iranian explanations have been incomplete or conflicting. So the exact targets and damage remain unclear.
Official authorities had not yet given a formal explanation for the blasts. The sources do not say what steps will follow.
If you follow fuel prices at home, this news is worth watching. Tankers and oil routes are involved.
Sources
- Free Press Journal: Iran Strait Of Hormuz Tensions Escalate As Explosions Rock Qeshm Island, 2 Oil Tankers Reportedly Damaged By Mines
- Republic World: Multiple Blasts Rock Qeshm Island And Jask Port Amid Strait Of Hormuz Tensions
- The Times of India: Iran’s Qeshm Island Rocked By Series Of Deafening Explosions; 3rd US Strike In 3 Days
