Iranian media have suggested that explosions heard across southern Iran on Saturday evening were connected to Iran's own military activity rather than American strikes, as both sides reported shipping hit in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's state television said officials had not confirmed any missile strikes on Iranian territory after blasts were heard in several areas, including Qeshm Island in the strait, and suggested the evening explosions might be related to Iranian military activity in the waterway. State news agency IRNA reported two explosions in eastern Qeshm, while residents also reported blasts near Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency gave conflicting accounts. It first reported that two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, with no official information on possible damage, and later cited an informed source as saying the explosions were unrelated to missile strikes and instead linked to the armed forces' management of maritime traffic in the strait. Neither Iran nor the United States has commented on the Tasnim missile report, according to Reuters.

At sea, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said two oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines while trying to pass through what it called an unauthorised route in the strait. The semi-official Fars news agency later reported that a third tanker had also suffered an explosion and caught fire. Reuters said it was not able to confirm any of the reported strikes.

The United States said its air force had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, beyond the strait, firing at its stern as it tried to get through the American blockade of Iranian ports. Monitors from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a separate incident involving a bulk carrier about 18 nautical miles east of the Emirati city of Khor Fakkan, with damage unknown.

President Donald Trump had hinted at renewing major attacks on Iran after last week's US midterm elections, but there has been no sign of a large-scale American military operation. Washington said on 2 November that it had struck Qeshm in a limited defensive measure against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.

Since the United States and Israel began attacks on Iran in February, Tehran has sought to hit vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to block Gulf energy exports, while US forces have blockaded movements to and from Iranian ports since April. Qatar, which has been mediating in talks to end the conflict, on Saturday denied reports that the US and Iran had failed to reach a deal, saying both sides were continuing to work towards an agreement.