Iran reports explosions near Bushehr nuclear plant as US denies involvement

Multiple unexplained explosions were heard on Thursday in southern Iran, including the coastal cities of Bushehr, Choghadak, Konarak and reports of a blast in Bandar Abbas. The blasts occurred near the Bushehr nuclear power facility, but Iranian officials said the reactor itself was not damaged.

Iranian state media attributed the incidents to an "air‑defence response" and a projectile striking a military base on the outskirts of Bushehr, while the U.S. Central Command told Al Jazeera that no American strikes had been carried out in the hours before the explosions.

The events come amid a broader escalation between Tehran and Washington, with recent U.S. and Israeli statements warning that the conflict is not over, and a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz involving Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. Regional leaders have condemned the attacks and warned of rising security and economic risks for the vital oil‑export route.