Explosions were reported near Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, hours after US and Iranian representatives held rare diplomatic discussions on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The cause of the explosions and the extent of any damage were not immediately clear.
The reports came as US President Donald Trump described talks involving American officials and an Iranian delegation as “very good” and “productive.” Trump said the discussions lasted around three hours and indicated that further talks could take place in the near future. He later acknowledged that the Iranian representatives were not the country’s highest-level officials.
The discussions involved US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reported by Iranian state media to have participated. According to Witkoff, mediators moved between the two delegations during the discussions, which were aimed at exploring a possible diplomatic path forward.
The diplomatic contact represents an important development after months of conflict and limited communication between Washington and Tehran. Reuters reported that the discussions were the first such US-Iran contacts in months following the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement. Neither side, however, publicly announced a change in its core position following the talks.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the negotiations because of its importance to global energy shipments. Iran has previously indicated that it could reopen the waterway within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran has also sought other conditions as part of any broader diplomatic settlement.
The explosions near Qeshm Island added uncertainty to an already delicate diplomatic situation. Iranian media reported hearing loud blasts in the area, but authorities had not immediately provided a confirmed explanation for what caused them or whether they were connected to the wider conflict.
For now, the US-Iran discussions appear to have opened a channel for further diplomacy, but major differences remain over the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending hostilities. Further meetings and the positions taken by both governments will determine whether the latest contacts develop into broader negotiations.
