There were also explosions in southern Iran on Thursday, near the country’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, as tension continued to escalate nationwide. Iranian officials confirmed the explosions but said the exact reason for them was still under investigation, and US officials denied that American troops were carrying out fresh military strikes.
The reported explosions came as Iran entered the third day of hostilities following renewed U.S. military action.
Blasts reported in Bushehr, Choghadak and Konarak.
According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, explosions were heard in Bushehr, Choghadak and the port city of Konarak on the Makran coast of Iran.
Ehsan Jahanian, deputy governor of Bushehr, confirmed that explosions had been reported in Bushehr and nearby Choghadak.
He said authorities were investigating whether the sounds were caused by:
Iranian air defence systems intercepting threats. Enemy projectiles striking the area. Enemy drones being shot down.
The source of the explosions has yet to be confirmed.
Mehr News Agency reported that two explosions were heard near Bushehr and Choghadak, while three separate blasts were reported in Konarak.
No immediate information was available on casualties or damage.
US Rejects Reports of fresh military action.
The explosions occurred as regional tensions were aggravated by previous US strikes on Iranian targets.
The United States has admitted to responsibility for earlier strikes, saying they were carried out in response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
But U.S. officials stressed that American forces were not involved in the recent reported explosions.
According to multiple media reports:
A US official told CNN that American forces were not conducting strikes in Iran. The US military was not attacking the region, the officials close to the situation said, and no American strikes had taken place in recent hours. An Israeli official told CNN that they were “not familiar with any Israeli involvement” in the recent explosions.
The incidents come at a sensitive moment as Israeli officials have been saying that Israel had asked Donald Trump for approval in advance to resume military operations against Iran.
According to senior Israeli officials interviewed by CNN, discussions about possible future strikes have taken place, but no official announcement has been made.
Due to contradictory reports and the Iranian authorities' ongoing investigation into the cause of Thursday's explosions, the exact reason behind the explosions is unclear.
The development underlines that the security situation in the region is still very fragile and military activity, strategic infrastructure and international shipping routes are being closely watched as the tension between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to evolve.
