Iran announced that the recent explosions in the southern regions of the country are likely due to its own military activities and not attacks by the United States. These explosions were heard on Saturday evening in several areas, including Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Military and Economic Impacts in the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media reported that officials have not confirmed any missile attacks on Iranian territory. While former U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of resuming extensive attacks on Iran following last week's midterm elections, no signs of a large military operation by the United States have been observed so far. Iran had previously stated that it would respond to U.S. and Israeli targets if such attacks occurred.
Read more: U.S. and Iran's diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions
However, both sides continue to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which has limited the export of energy and other vital goods for the global economy. Iranian state media reported that the explosions last night may be related to Iran's military activities in this waterway, where Iran stated that two ships hit mines and another ship caught fire.
Conflicting Reports and Regional Tensions
The United States also announced that its air force rendered a ship in the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz inoperable. Tasnim News Agency reported that two missiles struck Qeshm Island, but no official information regarding possible damages has been released. The United States also announced on November 2 that it had attacked this island in a limited defensive action.
Since the onset of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, Tehran has sought to gain an advantage by targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Gulf energy exports. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have been blocking movements to and from Iranian ports since April.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that two oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines while attempting to pass through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, another oil tanker also caught fire due to an explosion.
According to sources from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a cargo ship and military forces were involved in an incident in the Gulf of Oman, about 18 nautical miles east of the city of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, with details of the damage unclear. It is still uncertain whether this incident is related to the reported attack by the United States.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region have escalated with increased clashes between Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia this month. The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced on Sunday that an office building belonging to the state oil company Aramco in Riyadh was damaged due to falling debris from an unsuccessful attack, but no injuries or casualties were reported.
Qatar, which is mediating negotiations to end this conflict that has destabilized the global economy, rejected reports on Saturday of a lack of agreement between the United States and Iran. The Qatari Prime Minister emphasized that both sides continue to strive for an agreement.
A senior Iranian official stated that Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar and said the United States is reviewing it, but negotiations depend on the fulfillment of seven demands from Tehran. These demands include the reduction of sanctions, access to frozen assets, and war reparations.
On Saturday, the U.S. military announced that it is launching an operational force to combat the movement of advanced weapons and other prohibited materials to Iran through land and Caspian Sea borders, which is part of efforts to pressure Tehran. The IRGC dismissed this plan as "playing with words" and stated that this action would not be effective as Tehran has prepared and established close ties with its neighbors.
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