TEHRAN Sept 13, 2026 – Explosions were heard late Sunday in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, according to Iranian state media and social media reports, adding to a day of incidents along the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The account @BRICSinfo first flagged the blasts as “JUST IN” news on September 13. Subsequent reports from IRNA and other Iranian outlets specified several explosions in the coastal city of Sirik. Authorities said the source was unknown and did not immediately report casualties or damage on land. No group or country claimed responsibility.
Sirik sits on Iran’s Gulf of Oman coast, east of the Strait of Hormuz. The province also includes Qeshm Island, a key location for Iran’s efforts to control traffic through the waterway.
Earlier Sunday, around 5 a.m. local time, an Iranian merchant vessel was struck by an unknown projectile off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. Qeshm County Governor Amir Teymouri said one person was killed and three others were injured. Iranian officials blamed a “terrorist enemy.” The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately confirmed a vessel was hit by a projectile while transiting the strait; a fire broke out and local authorities helped evacuate the crew.
Several explosions were also reported overnight around Qeshm, with some accounts saying the sounds came from the direction of the sea.
The incidents occur amid a months-long confrontation between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carried roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day before the conflict began in late February 2026. Traffic has fallen sharply. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and previously struck Iranian-flagged vessels. Iran has restricted passage and targeted shipping and U.S. assets in response. The U.S. military had not commented on the latest ship attack as of late Sunday.
The latest events came a day before planned talks in Oman between Iran and regional states on managing shipping through the strait. Iran and Oman have discussed new entry and exit routes, though Tehran has said any broader reopening would require an end to the U.S. blockade.
Commercial traffic through the waterway remains limited as attacks on vessels continue. The situation in Hormozgan and the surrounding waters remains fluid.
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