Explosions have been reported across southern Iran’s strategic coastal region near the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media saying air defences intercepted drones over Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas — as Iranian outlets began pointing the finger at the United Arab Emirates for the strikes in a development that threatens to dramatically escalate tensions in the region.
The Mizan news agency, citing sources, reported that the explosions heard over Qeshm were caused by air defences downing several small and reconnaissance drones. Tasnim news agency also reported, citing sources, that two drones were intercepted by air defences over Bandar Abbas. Officials in Hormozgan province confirmed the sounds were the result of countermeasures against micro aerial vehicles, adding that no damage to Qeshm Island had been reported.
Iran International reported that the initial sounds were heard at around 1:30am local time, with further explosion-like noises heard around 4:00am, reportedly coming from the direction of Larak Island.
But the picture quickly grew more alarming. Iran’s semi-official Mehr News agency reported that the UAE had struck a pier on Qeshm Island, and the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency said “some sources” attributed the hostile action to the Emirates — warning that “if the issue is confirmed, the UAE will pay the price.” The New York Times cited two senior Iranian officials as saying Abu Dhabi struck three sites on Qeshm Island — including the Bahman pier, a ship-making facility and an Iranian air force base in Bandar Abbas — reportedly in retaliation for Iran’s earlier attack on the Emirati city of Fujairah.
IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported that the commercial sections of Bahman pier on Qeshm Island were hit during what it described as “an exchange of fire between the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the enemy.”
Explosions were also reported in Sirik in Hormozgan province, with local outlet Eskan News reporting six blasts at intervals of around 40 seconds.
The incident is unfolding against an already fraught backdrop in the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo ship in the Persian Gulf was struck by what two US officials described as a possible land-attack cruise missile, leaving several crew members injured. The Trump administration has been separately working to resume its naval operation to protect commercial shipping through the strait, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait having lifted restrictions on US military use of their bases and airspace, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Al Jazeera, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, reported that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz would only return to normal if the war ended and sanctions were lifted. The situation in the region remains fast-moving, with Iranian authorities still working to establish the full source of the explosions at the time of publication.
