Multiple explosions were reported on Iran’s Qeshm Island and in the port city of Bandar Lengeh late Monday, as U.S. media outlets reported that American forces had conducted strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said several blasts occurred in quick succession, with witnesses reporting two aircraft flying over Qeshm Island. The semi-official Fars news agency also reported explosions near Bandar Lengeh. The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, citing U.S. officials, described the operations as defensive strikes intended to prevent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and American military assets in the strategically important waterway.
According to U.S. media reports, the strikes followed an incident in which Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly fired at an American aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials indicated that the operation targeted Iranian surface-to-air missile capabilities and was not intended to signal a broader military escalation. Earlier Monday, the IRGC claimed to have captured two American reconnaissance drones south of Qeshm Island and destroyed an MQ-9 drone east of the strait. Neither Washington nor Tehran immediately issued an official statement confirming the reported strikes. The developments unsettled global energy markets, with Brent crude rising to $106.61 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate reaching $98.06 early Tuesday.
The reported attacks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran, just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. President Donald Trump recently expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran, suggesting that a settlement could be achieved soon. Vice President JD Vance also described recent discussions with Iranian officials as encouraging, saying both he and Trump remained hopeful about a negotiated resolution. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei maintained that Tehran had clearly communicated its conditions for peace and was awaiting a response from Washington.
Iran has proposed a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days, provided the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports and guarantees an end to hostilities. The proposal could pave the way for renewed negotiations and the restoration of commercial shipping through the vital energy corridor. However, concerns about further escalation remain, with reports suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been advocating additional strikes against Iran following the American midterm elections. The latest developments underscore the fragile security situation in the Persian Gulf, where military confrontations continue to threaten diplomatic progress and global energy supplies.
