Commercial Vessels Hit as Strait of Hormuz Strikes Escalate
Explosions shook southern Iran and commercial shipping sustained fresh damage in and near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday evening, while state media downplayed fears of a large-scale American military assault. International shipping operators and regional energy markets face escalating disruptions as both US and Iranian forces target commercial vessels amid an ongoing naval blockade.
Iranian state television links regional blasts to domestic military drills
Iran‘s state television reported that explosions heard across multiple areas, including Qeshm Island, where Tasnim news agency noted two missiles struck without immediate damage reports, stemmed from internal military activities rather than new US airstrikes. US President Donald Trump previously hinted at renewing major attacks following last week’s midterm elections, though no large-scale military offensive has materialized.
The US military confirmed that its air force disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to navigate past the active blockade. Concurrently, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy stated that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines along an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, with the semi-official Fars news agency reporting that a third tanker suffered a similar explosion. Neither Washington nor Tehran has issued formal comments on the reported Qeshm Island missile strikes.
The naval confrontations build upon hostilities that escalated after the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to deploy maritime denial tactics targeting Gulf energy exports. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official confirmed that Tehran submitted a new nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, though discussions remain contingent on Washington meeting seven specific demands, including sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and war reparations.
