Iran suggests blasts are not US attacks as both sides report ships hit

Explosions in southern Iran on Saturday evenign were attributed to Iranian military operations, according to Iranian media, instead of US strikes. Both nations reported shipping incidents in or near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state television reported no confirmation of missile strikes on Iranian soil following the loud blasts heard across various areas, including Qeshm Island within the strait.

President Donald Trump had earlier indicated a potential resumption of major attacks on Iran following the US midterm elections, but no large-scale US military action had been observed. Iran has vowed retaliation against US and Israeli targets if provoked. Both sides have persistently targeted vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the flow of critical energy and commodities essential to the global economy.

Iranian state television claimed the evening explosions may have been linked to Iranian military activity in the waterway, with two vessels reportedly hit by mines and another catching fire. The US claimed its air force disabled a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, located beyond the strait. Tasnim news agency alleged that two missiles struck Qeshm Island, but no official data on potential damage was provided.

Neither Iran nor the United States commented on this account. Washington announced on November 2 that it had conducted a limited defensive strike against the island in response to Iranian surface-to-air missile threats against US assets. Since February, when the US and Israel initiated attacks on Iran, Tehran has attempted to gain the upper hand by targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to impede Gulf energy exports.

In April, US forces established a blockade on movements to and from Iranian ports. The US military reported on Saturday evening that its air force had fired at the stern of a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman, disabling it as it attempted to traverse the blockade. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy stated that two oil tankers caught fire after colliding with mines while attempting to navigate an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz.

A third tanker also experienced an explosion and fire, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. However, Reuters was unable to verify any of the reported strikes. Monitor organizations from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 18 nautical miles east of the United Arab Emirates city of Khor Fakkan, with undetermined damage.

It was uncertain whether this incident was connected to the alleged US attack. Saudi Arabia's energy ministry reported on Sunday that an administrative building belonging to the state oil company Saudi Aramco in Riyadh had sustained damage from falling debris following a purported attack, with no reported injuries or fatalities.

Qatar, which has been mediating talks to resolve the ongoing conflict impacting the world economy, denied reports that the US and Iran had failed to reach an agreement on Saturday. The Qatari prime minister affirmed that both sides were still working towards a resolution. Iran had proposed a nuclear plan to Washington through Qatar, according to a senior Iranian official, stating that the US was reviewing the proposal but discussions would hinge on Washington first meeting Iran's seven demands, which include sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and war reparations, while the US insists that nuclear issues must be addressed in initial negotiations.

On Saturday, the US military disclosed plans to launch a task force to curb the movement of advanced weapons and sanctioned materials to Iran through its land borders and the Caspian Sea, as part of economic measures aimed at pressuring Tehran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards dismissed this plan as "wordplay," asserting that it would be ineffective due to Iran's prior preparations and close communication with neighboring countries.