Iran's Fars News Agency reported that Iranian forces prevented a non-compliant oil tanker from passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz today, after the vessel entered the waterway's jurisdiction without prior coordination.

In a related development, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that the sound of an explosion was heard at sea, approximately two kilometers off the coast of Sirik Port in Hormozgan Province. Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency clarified that the sounds heard near Sirik Port may be linked to measures taken by the armed forces to prevent maritime transit violations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Concurrently, Iranian state television reported that two explosions were heard in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

These events follow a statement issued yesterday, Thursday, by the Iranian Directorate for the Management of Waterways in the Gulf Waters, which confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz "will remain closed until further notice." The directorate explained that this measure comes in the wake of "tensions incited by the aggressive American forces in the region, and based on the statement issued by the Iranian Armed Forces last night."

The Iranian directorate also urged all entities holding transit permits to remain patient and await subsequent instructions from the competent authorities.