US-Iran tensions soar: Fresh strikes in Qeshm Island as Hormuz status remains at odds

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 12, 2026 11:41 PM IST

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo)

Iran on Sunday reported fresh attacks in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Hajjiabad near the Strait of Hormuz, all located in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, as the US military declared Hormuz “open for all” vessels legally transiting the critical waterway.

Military installations targeted on Qeshm Island

According to Qeshm Island governor Hossein Amir Teymouri, at least 10 to 11 “enemy projectiles” struck the island on Sunday, reported Tehran’s state-linked IRNA news agency.

The governor added that all targets were military positions and that no casualties had been reported on the island.

Casualties reported among local maintenance workers

However, the Iranian government said that at least one maintenance worker was killed and two others were wounded in the latest round of attacks on southern Hormozgan province.

The authorities added that the worker was killed while “performing his duties”, IRNA reported.

Strategic value of the Persian Gulf’s largest island

Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf with a population of about 150,000 people, AP reported.

The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available despite unwarranted Iranian aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary… pic.twitter.com/FS3TUBOZEj

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026

It is vital to Iran as it acts as a fortified forward position in the Strait of Hormuz and is home to Tehran’s underground military facilities and anti-ship missile sites, Al Jazeera reported.

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Border centers and energy infrastructure hit in Kuwait

The development comes as Kuwait reported latest round of attacks at three border centres and an offshore oil drilling platform, causing “material damage”. The country’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday that at least three northern land borders were struck by a “criminal attack”.

⚡️#LATEST video reportedly from the American attack on Kashm Island, Iran pic.twitter.com/O0GajBTm8L

— Global News Monitor (@GlobalNewsMontr) July 12, 2026

Kuwait’s ministry added that a worker was injured after a “hostile” drone targeted an offshore drilling platform operated by the Kuwait Oil Company in the territorial water, Al Jazeera reported.

Diplomatic deadlock over maritime corridor access

Meanwhile, the US military and President Donald Trump declared that Strait of Hormuz “remains open for all” vessels trying to legally cross the strategic waterway.

However, Iran said Hormuz was closed until calm is restored and Tehran would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks.

Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf earlier said, “The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”

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