Iran suggests blasts are not U.S. attacks as both sides report ships hit

Smoke rises from the stern of a St. Kitts-flagged cargo vessel following what U.S. Central Command says was a strike on Saturday to disable the vessel, which was trying to break the U.S. blockade of Iran, at a location given as the Gulf of Oman, in this still image taken from video released Nov. 7. | U.S. Central Command / via REUTERS

Reuters

Nov 9, 2026

CAIRO – Iranian media suggested explosions in southern Iran on Saturday evening were related to Iranian military activities rather than U.S. strikes while both sides reported that shipping had been hit in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s state television said officials had not confirmed any missile strikes on Iranian territory following blasts heard in several areas, including on Qeshm Island in the strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump had hinted at renewing major attacks on Iran after last week’s U.S. midterm elections but there has been no sign of a large-scale U.S. military operation, which Iran has said it would respond to by striking U.S. and Israeli targets.

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