TEHRAN — A major explosion was reported at a port facility on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, amid reports of exchanges of fire with unspecified enemy forces.
The blast occurred on May 7 at the Bahman pier area on Qeshm Island, a key location near Iran's southern coast, according to Iran's Fars News Agency and other state-linked outlets. Sounds of explosions were also reported in the nearby port city of Bandar Abbas.
Iranian media described an exchange of fire between Iranian forces and an unidentified "enemy," with parts of the commercial port area hit. Details on the precise cause, extent of damage and any casualties remained unclear as of the latest reports. Officials did not immediately confirm the origin of the incident.
Qeshm Island, Iran's largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, serves as a strategically important area for maritime traffic in a chokepoint through which about one-fifth of global oil passes. The port facilities there handle commercial and passenger traffic.
Semi-official Iranian outlets, including those linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speculated about possible involvement by regional actors but provided no verified evidence. No immediate claims of responsibility were reported from any foreign governments.
A senior U.S. official was cited in some international reporting as indicating U.S. involvement in strikes on related targets around that time, though the Pentagon had not issued a detailed public confirmation in initial statements. U.S. officials described any such actions as limited.
The incident took place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, the United States and Gulf states. Iranian media reported air defense activity and blasts in coastal areas, with residents in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm describing loud explosions and lights over the water.
"Some sources say the hostile action against Bahman pier on Iran’s Qeshm Island was carried out by the United Arab Emirates, acting as a tool of the Israeli regime," an IRGC-affiliated outlet reported, though Iranian authorities had not officially confirmed such claims.
Operations at affected facilities and the status of shipping in the area were not fully detailed in available reports. Iranian authorities have not released comprehensive updates on injuries, deaths or structural damage.
Regional maritime authorities and international shipping groups were monitoring the situation for potential disruptions to trade routes. No independent verification of the full scope of the event was immediately available from non-Iranian sources.
Further details were expected as investigations continued.
