Tensions around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz remained high on September 23 after an explosion was reported near Iran’s Qeshm Island, hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iranian state media reported that the sound of an explosion was heard near Qeshm Island. The official IRNA news agency said the sound appeared to have come from the direction of the sea rather than from the island itself. It also reported that no rockets or missiles had struck Qeshm. Iranian authorities had not immediately provided a definitive explanation for the cause of the blast.
Qeshm Island is located close to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. The area has become a major focus of the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the United States because of its importance to international commercial shipping and energy transportation.
The reported explosion came against the backdrop of diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in New York during the UN General Assembly. Iranian state media said the meeting was held at the request of the US side and focused on Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state media reports cited by Reuters, Araghchi conveyed three key conditions. Tehran called for the immediate lifting of what it described as the US naval blockade, the prompt release or payment of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war on all fronts that Iran refers to as resistance fronts. These conditions were presented as part of Iran’s position on reopening the waterway.
The discussions came after an Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade on Iranian ports. The official also said Iran’s delegation at the UN had authority to pursue diplomatic discussions and that Tehran’s proposal for ending hostilities had previously been delivered to the United States through mediators.
The diplomatic contact represents an important development because direct and mediated communication between the United States and Iran has remained difficult amid the continuing conflict. US officials have indicated that mediators have been working between the two sides, while Iranian officials have continued to emphasize that any agreement would require changes to US military and economic pressure.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said mediators had moved between the American and Iranian delegations during lengthy discussions in New York. President Donald Trump subsequently described the talks as productive and indicated that another round of discussions could take place. Reports have differed over whether the contact should be described as a direct meeting or as talks conducted through intermediaries, although Iranian state media confirmed that Araghchi and Witkoff met.
The explosion near Qeshm Island adds another layer of uncertainty to the situation. At present, there is no confirmed public evidence establishing what caused the blast. Iranian state media specifically reported that no missile or rocket struck the island. Therefore, the incident should not be described as a confirmed military attack unless authorities provide further evidence.
The Strait of Hormuz has experienced severe disruption since the escalation of the Iran conflict. Commercial shipping through the waterway has fallen sharply compared with levels recorded before the conflict. Reuters reported that only two commodity vessels crossed the strait on September 21, compared with ten the previous day and a pre-conflict average of about 125 large commercial vessels per day. Reuters also cautioned that shipping data may not include vessels whose automatic identification systems were switched off.
Two separate incidents involving commercial vessels were also reported in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters said the oil tanker LR Stephanie was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing minor injuries to two crew members, while the LPG tanker Al Maryah was also hit while leaving the strait. The responsibility for those incidents had not been established in the report.
The reduction in shipping traffic has wider implications because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes. Large quantities of crude oil, petroleum products and other commodities normally pass through the region. Prolonged disruption can affect shipping costs, insurance rates, energy prices and international supply chains.
Iran has maintained that the reopening of the waterway is linked to the broader conflict and to US military actions. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran was prepared to consider reopening the strait within seven days if Washington took concrete steps to reduce military pressure and lift the blockade.
At the same time, the US position remains focused on pressure against Iran and the restoration of secure commercial navigation. President Trump used his UN General Assembly address to discuss the conflict with Iran and said he believed a diplomatic settlement could still be possible. However, he also issued strong warnings against Tehran if negotiations fail.
The diplomatic discussions in New York have also involved regional mediators. Qatar and Pakistan have been involved in efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran. Qatar has also discussed regional security arrangements involving Iran and Gulf states. Oman has previously played a role in discussions concerning maritime arrangements and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The situation remains fluid because the diplomatic process and military tensions are continuing at the same time. While the talks between Araghchi and Witkoff have opened another channel for communication, Iran’s conditions for reopening the waterway remain significant points of negotiation.
For international shipping companies, the immediate concern is the safety and predictability of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The sharp decline in vessel movements demonstrates the impact that security concerns are having on commercial traffic. Any agreement that allows regular shipping to resume could have consequences for global energy markets and international trade.
For India and other Asian economies, developments in the Strait of Hormuz are particularly important because the region is a major source and transit route for energy supplies. Prolonged disruption could affect freight costs, insurance premiums and energy prices, depending on the duration and scale of the restrictions.
The latest explosion near Qeshm Island should therefore be viewed within a wider context of heightened military and diplomatic tension. However, its exact cause remains unclear, and there has been no confirmed public attribution of responsibility.
The immediate focus now is on whether the latest US Iran diplomatic contacts can produce a framework for reducing military pressure and restoring commercial navigation. Iran has publicly linked reopening the Strait of Hormuz to specific conditions, while Washington has continued to demand changes in Tehran’s conduct.
The coming days could therefore be important for both diplomacy and maritime security. Any progress in negotiations could help reduce uncertainty around the waterway, while further military incidents could complicate efforts to restore regular shipping.