Explosions were heard on Saturday evening on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and in the southern port of Jask, Iranian media reported. The cause of the blasts is still not known, and neither Iran nor the United States has confirmed what set them off.
Blasts were also reported in Sirik and Bandar Abbas, two more towns on Iran’s southern coast. No reports of casualties or damage came with the first accounts.
What Happened on Qeshm and Jask
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said two explosions were heard on the eastern side of Qeshm Island. Shortly after, it said several more blasts were heard near Jask port in Hormozgan province. The semi-official Fars news agency, citing local sources, also reported several explosions in Qeshm and Jask, but said their nature and exact places were still unclear.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency first reported that two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, with no official word on damage. Later, Tasnim cited an unnamed Iranian official who said the island had not been attacked and that the sounds were related to the Strait of Hormuz. The agency did not say what in the strait was behind the sounds, and the claim has not been independently confirmed.
Iranian state television said the sounds could be linked to military activity by Iran’s armed forces in the strait, and rejected reports of fresh US attacks. A state television reporter suggested the blasts could be part of Iranian military operations to defend the Strait of Hormuz. Local and provincial authorities had not explained the cause.
Tankers on Fire in Strait
In the waterway itself, the navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines. The IRGC said the tankers were travelling on a route it called unauthorised. The semi-official Fars news agency later reported that a third tanker had also suffered an explosion and caught fire.
In a separate incident the same day, the US military said it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel, the M/V Huda, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored warnings.
Why Cause Remains Unclear
The accounts do not line up. Tasnim’s own reports contradicted each other within hours — first missiles, then no attack. Iranian state media pointed to the country’s own military activity, while giving no proof. Reuters said it could not confirm any of the reported strikes, and neither Iran nor the United States commented on the Tasnim report.
That confusion matters. Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and sits inside the narrow Strait of Hormuz. Jask is a port town on the Gulf of Oman. When blasts are heard in such a place and no side explains them, every claim spreads fast — and every claim can push oil prices and shipping nerves.
Why Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil routes. Tankers carrying crude from the Gulf pass through its narrow waters every day, on their way to buyers in Asia and beyond. Any threat to shipping there — mines, missiles, or a closure — can push up oil prices and force ships to take longer, costlier routes.
The blasts came days after the United States said it had struck an air defence system on Qeshm Island in a limited action. US President Donald Trump confirmed that strike on Friday. Countries in the region had been expecting that Trump, who had held off strikes during the weeks before Tuesday’s midterm elections, could restart attacks once voting was over. Iran has repeatedly said it would answer new attacks by striking US and Israeli targets in neighbouring countries.
Iran was also weighing a Qatari proposal for talks with the United States, a reminder that diplomacy and military pressure are running side by side.
Key Facts
| When | Saturday evening, 7 November 2026 |
| Where | Qeshm Island (eastern side), Jask, Sirik, Bandar Abbas |
| What | Explosions heard; cause unconfirmed |
| Tankers | Two caught fire after hitting mines (IRGC); a third later reported by Fars |
| Casualties or damage | None reported |
| Background | US said it struck Qeshm air defence days earlier (limited action) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Qeshm Island?
Two explosions were heard on the eastern side of Qeshm Island on Saturday evening, with more blasts reported in Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas. The cause has not been confirmed.
Was Qeshm attacked by missiles?
Tasnim first reported two missiles had struck the island, then cited an official saying no attack had taken place. Neither claim has been independently confirmed.
What happened to the oil tankers?
The IRGC navy said two oil tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz while using a route it called unauthorised. Fars later reported a third tanker had also caught fire.
