(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL — Iranian authorities said Monday, November 9, that reported overnight US strikes on Qeshm Island caused no damage to residential areas, commercial establishments or critical infrastructure, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued.
Ahmad Nafisi, deputy governor of Hormozgan province for political, security and social affairs, said the targeted locations were situated away from populated areas and essential public facilities, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
“The targeted sites were outside residential and commercial areas and public service infrastructure, and no damage was caused to the island’s vital infrastructure or essential services,” Nafisi said.
The official assured residents that the situation on Qeshm Island remained under control following reports of explosions in the area.
He said emergency response teams, public utility providers and administrative agencies remained on heightened alert to ensure the continued delivery of essential services.
Nafisi, however, did not identify the locations allegedly targeted in the strikes or provide information on possible casualties.
His statement followed reports of several explosions Sunday evening in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and nearby Qeshm Island.
Fars initially reported, citing local sources, that the explosions might have resulted from warning shots fired at vessels suspected of violating maritime navigation regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian authorities did not immediately provide a definitive explanation for the blasts, leaving the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents unclear.
Qeshm Island is located near Bandar Abbas at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes for oil shipments.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major passage for global energy exports.
The reported explosions occurred amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran over regional security and freedom of navigation in the strait.
Diplomatic efforts to ease the conflict remain underway, although security concerns persist in the strategically important waterway.
The reported US involvement in the explosions has not been independently confirmed, and the full extent of the incidents remains unclear.
