Multiple explosions were heard on Iran's Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh, near the Strait of Hormuz, in the early hours of Tuesday amid US threats of fresh strikes against the country.
Iran’s IRNA news agency said five explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, while further blasts were reported in Bandar Lengeh. According to the report, residents of Qeshm Island claimed that they had spotted two aircraft flying over the island.
There has been no official information on the cause of the explosions or any casualties.
The developments came hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force claimed that it had shot down three US drones near the Strait of Hormuz, including the 55th MQ-9 military drone.
The IRGC said two US MQM-170 reconnaissance drones were brought down south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems, taking the total number of captured drones of this type to four.
It also said in a statement that a US MQ-9 drone was intercepted and destroyed east of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The 55th advanced MQ-9 drone was tracked and brought down over the airspace east of the Strait of Hormuz by the Aerospace Force's newly developed air defense system, operating under the country's unified air defense network,” it said.
Tensions remain high in the region, with media reports suggesting that US President Donald Trump is weighing fresh military operations against Iran, although US forces have not carried out any major strikes in the country in recent weeks.
According to an Associated Press report last week, US officials had urged several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to prepare for the possibility of renewed military action against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections.
In a social media post on Monday, Trump, however, expressed optimism that negotiations between Washington and Tehran could lead to a settlement soon.
“Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Vice President J.D. Vance also expressed optimism over the prospects of a negotiated agreement with Iran, indicating that the administration believed diplomatic efforts had made some progress.
Speaking to Fox News in Minnesota, Vance said, “The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We're going to keep on working at it... We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more.”
