US launches fresh strikes on Iran, blasts reported in Bandar Abbas

Iranian media reported multiple explosions in the strategic southeastern cities of Chabahar and Konarak after the US launched fresh strikes on Iran. The reports follow explosions in Bandar Abbas and air defence activation near Bushehr, signalling a widening regional military escalation.US launches fresh strikes on Iran. (Photo- X/CENTCOM)The United States has launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East amid an already volatile security situation.According to an official statement posted on X by CENTCOM, US forces began the operation at 4 p.m. ET under the direction of the Commander in Chief. The strikes were aimed at further degrading Iranian military capabilities allegedly used to threaten and attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy transit routes. CENTCOM on X Soon after the operation began, Iran's state television reported an explosion in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, a key naval and military hub overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.Separately, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that air defence systems were activated near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on the country's southern coast, indicating heightened military alert as the strikes unfolded. Iranian media also reported multiple explosions in the southeastern cities of Chabahar and Konarak, marking the latest escalation as the conflict between the US and Iran intensifies.Meanwhile, the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB has posted a message on X appearing to blame the United States for a reported incident in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo posted by IRIB on X Sharing a photograph of a burning ship, IRIB wrote: "The consequences of trusting the US; scenes from the Strait of Hormuz hours ago." - EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Jul 21, 2026 02:11 IST