Iran-US tensions rise amid maritime incidents and diplomatic efforts

Following the US midterm election, tensions in the Middle East are mounting as Iran and the United States step up military preparations amid growing concerns over a possible new outbreak of open conflict.

Explosions heard in Iran

Several explosions were heard on Saturday night in the southern Iranian counties of Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas, state-run IRIB TV reported.

It said it was not yet clear whether the blasts resulted from an enemy attack or from the Iranian armed forces firing at "violating" vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The official news agency IRNA earlier reported two explosions on Qeshm Island, citing its correspondent as saying that the blasts occurred on the island.

However, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted an informed source as saying that the sounds were linked to the Iranian armed forces' management of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and that no projectile had struck the island.

Vessels hit in Strait of Hormuz

Passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains hazardous as both Iran and the US are targeting tankers passing through the crucial waterway.

The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Sunday two "violating" oil tankers attempting to pass through an "unauthorized" route in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after hitting naval mines.

In a statement on the IRGC's official news outlet, Sepah News, the navy said that one tanker hit mines east of the strait and the other while crossing the waterway.

Both vessels had turned off navigation and GPS systems and were burning following the explosions, it added.

The IRGC warned that any vessel cooperating with the "aggressive" US Army and entering the "unauthorized" region in the strait in defiance of Iranian regulations would "definitely" hit naval mines.

Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media platform X that its forces had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its civilian crew "ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times."

"A US military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, disabling the ship after CENTCOM forces directed the crew to abandon targeted spaces. The cargo vessel tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port," it added.

Diplomatic efforts underway

Meanwhile, both the US and Iran are still conducting diplomatic efforts aimed at negotiations. According to Axios, US Vice President JD Vance has personally participated in indirect talks with Iran over the past two weeks aimed at reaching a new ceasefire and resuming nuclear negotiations.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also made a flurry of phone calls in the past two days with counterparts from 12 countries. Sharing details about his calls on X, Araghchi listed the nations as Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cyprus, Türkiye, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Iraq and Pakistan.

He said they discussed regional and international developments and that he reiterated Tehran’s core positions. He stressed that the national sovereignty of all states must be respected, aggression and threats must end, and destructive foreign interference must be avoided.

He also noted that countries in the region bear responsibility to prevent further security escalations.

(With input from agencies)