Six to eight explosions were reported across southern Iran on September 1 as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had begun precise, defensive strikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets at noon ET. The reported blast locations included Konarak, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, with additional accounts placing explosions near Masan village and in the direction of the Strait of Hormuz. Bandar Abbas is a strategic port city at the waterway’s entrance, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes daily. Iranian authorities had not confirmed the incidents, reported casualties or released official damage assessments in the immediate aftermath. CENTCOM said the operation responded to IRGC actions it described as threats to commercial shipping. Similar explosions were reported during U.S. strikes in June and July 2026, including six on Qeshm and seven in Sirik. The Strait of Hormuz also carries a significant share of global liquefied natural gas shipments, making any sustained disruption a potential source of worldwide energy-market volatility. The 2019 drone attack on Saudi Aramco facilities temporarily removed half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production and pushed Brent crude nearly 15% higher in one session. Iran’s eventual response, whether diplomatic, through proxies or by direct military action, will help determine whether the episode remains contained or leads to a broader repricing of global risk.