TEHRAN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Several explosions were heard Tuesday night in the southern Iranian provinces of Hormozgan and Khuzestan, as the United States announced a new round of strikes against Iran, state-run IRIB news agency reported.

This picture, released by the Iranian government's foreign media department and distributed by the AP without changes, shows graves being prepared for the victims, mostly children, of a strike Feb. 28 on a primary school in Minab, Iran, Monday, March 2, 2026. (Photo: AP)

Six explosions were heard west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, and Khuzestan's provincial capital Ahvaz was struck by U.S. projectiles, it reported.

Separately, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported that Sirik County in Hormozgan province was targeted by U.S. airstrikes Tuesday night, noting the attack caused no casualties or material damage.

Three blasts were also heard in proximity to Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province, Mehr reported.

The U.S. Central Command said in a post on X on Tuesday that "at 3 p.m. ET today, forces began launching an additional round of strikes against Iran to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

"The strikes are taking place as American forces prepare to resume the naval blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade goes into effect at 4 p.m. ET," it added.

The United States has launched a series of strikes on Iran in recent days, citing Tehran's attacks on ships seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz using a U.S.-backed Omani route. Iran responded by targeting U.S. military bases in Gulf states and Jordan.