Several consecutive explosions were reported late Monday on Iran's Qeshm Island and near the port city of Bandar Lengeh. According to Iran's state-owned IRNA news agency, witnesses observed aircraft operating in the airspace above the island, while local reports pointed to sea-borne blasts disrupting the fragile stability of the vital maritime corridor.

Prominent US media outlets, citing anonymous American officials, claimed that the United States military carried out the strikes. Representatives of the US regime asserted that the attacks were supposedly defensive, aimed at curbing alleged threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Insiders claimed the campaign was deliberately kept quiet to prevent signaling a return to large-scale combat operations, though such justifications remain difficult to verify independently.

These developments occur on the eve of crucial US midterm elections, casting a shadow over domestic political calculations. Donald Trump attempted to project optimism on social media, claiming that oil prices were plunging and that Tehran supposedly desired an urgent settlement to avoid a wider conflict. However, the reality on the ground points to an escalating cycle of friction rather than genuine diplomatic breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities responded by stating that the ball remains in Washington's court. Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that proposed frameworks for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resolving maritime disputes could be implemented swiftly, provided that the US regime lifts naval blockades and ceases hostile actions.

Source: www.aljazeera.com