US says strikes launched as explosions heard in southern Iran

The US military launched airstrikes against Iran after explosions were reported in southern Iran, including in Sirik, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. The US Central Command said the strikes were in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions after a recent memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

DEVELOPING STORY DEVELOPING STORY, US says strikes launched as explosions heard in southern Iran The US military says it has launched airstrikes against Iran as explosions were reported in several locations in the south of the country. The US Central Command CENTCOM said the strikes began on Tuesday, and are being conducted “in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz”. Iranian media have reported several explosions in the southern port city of Sirik, as well as Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3 Canadian province sues OpenAI over alleged ChatGPT-linked shooting warnings /news/2026/7/7/canadian-province-sues-openai-over-alleged-chatgpt-linked-shooting-warnings - list 2 of 3 Prolonged hospitalisation of US Republican Mitch McConnell raises questions /news/2026/7/7/prolonged-hospitalisation-of-us-republican-mitch-mcconnell-raises-questions - list 3 of 3 Trump lashes out at NATO as first day of summit wraps in Turkiye /news/2026/7/7/trump-lashes-out-at-nato-as-first-day-of-summit-wraps-in-turkiye Following the blasts, Iran’s foreign ministry said it held the US government responsible for the consequences of breaching the memorandum of understanding MoU agreed between the two countries in June, which was supposed to put to an end to the war the US and Israel began against Iran in late February. The MoU mandated /news/2026/6/29/the-us-iran-mou-looks-at-managing-the-pain-rather-than-ending-the-war lifting the US naval blockade on Iran in exchange for Tehran reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz. The US also agreed at the end of June to waive sanctions /news/2026/6/23/what-the-us-and-iran-agreed-and-disagreed-on-first-day-of-talks on Iranian oil for 60 days. However, the US Treasury Department on Tuesday moved to revoke https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/936446/download?inline the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales after a tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. A Qatari tanker caught fire /news/2026/7/7/ships-attacked-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-what-that-means-for-ongoing-talks off the coast of Oman Monday after being struck by an “unknown projectile” /news/2026/7/7/tanker-on-fire-off-coast-of-oman-after-being-hit-by-projectile in the Strait of Hormuz /news/liveblog/2026/7/7/natos-turkiye-summit-live-trump-leaders-to-meet-in-ankara , according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations UKMTO . Iranian television reported claims that the LNG tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, but Tehran did not directly claim the assault. Neither the US Central Command CENTCOM nor the IRGC commented on the incident. A second ship, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, was also damaged in the Strait of Hormuz when the IRGC fired missiles, sources told Reuters news agency. A US official warned that Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable” and would be met with consequences, Reuters reported Tuesday. In response, Iran’s foreign ministry said it would take any measure it deemed necessary to safeguard the country’s interests and national security.