A new wave of American air strikes on targets in Iran was under way on Tuesday afternoon across the wider area of the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports from Iran said explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, three major ports on the Strait.

Explosions were also heard on the island of Qeshm, also on the Strait, as well as in Konarak and Chabahar in southeastern Iran.

It was not immediately clear what the targets were. Previous rounds of strikes have often taken place in the evening or at night.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post that today, at 12:00 US Eastern time (19:00 in Greece), American forces began striking targets belonging to the IRGC in Iran. The strikes, it said, follow recent attempted attacks by the Guard on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and on American military personnel deployed in the region.