Iranian state media reported explosions in various parts of the country on Thursday evening after Washington announced its forces had launched new strikes.

Iran's state TV quoted the governor of Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear facility, as saying two explosions occurred in the city.

The TV also reported a series of explosions in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas.

Iranian media said seven people were injured in the US strikes on Bandar Abbas.

US strikes targeted the Bandar Khamir bridge linking the southern Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas and Lar.

According to Iranian media, the US strikes on bridges in Khamir district in the southern province of Hormozgan left two dead and four wounded.

Iranian media also reported that an air strike targeted Iranshahr airport in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran.

Iranian media said several explosions were heard in the vicinity of Hamidiyeh city, in addition to an explosion in Ahvaz.

US rockets also fell near the city of Sirik in southeastern Iran.

US forces announced Thursday that they had begun a new wave of strikes against Iran for the fifth consecutive night.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the aim of these strikes was to continue weakening Iranian military capabilities.

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For the first time since a memorandum of understanding halted fighting last month, the United States launched two large waves of airstrikes in a single day on Wednesday, mostly targeting coastal sites in southern Iran.

Tehran responds to US strikes by firing missiles and drones at neighboring countries.

The renewed escalation has largely halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important shipping route for oil and gas, pushing global energy prices higher.

Tehran has resumed closing the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports as of Wednesday.

Sources told Reuters that Tehran has hinted it may push its Houthi allies in Yemen to close another key strait, the Bab al-Mandeb at the entrance to the Red Sea, if Washington attacks Iranian infrastructure.

In a press briefing Thursday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump 'will not stand idly by and allow these active terrorist acts in the strait to continue without ensuring that Iran is held accountable.'

But she added that the US president is 'always open to diplomacy at the same time.'

Iran wants all ships using the Strait of Hormuz to take only a channel close to its shores, and has not hidden its intention to impose transit fees at the end of a 60-day negotiation period stipulated in the memorandum of understanding signed last month.

Washington has encouraged ships to use an alternative route to the south along the Omani coast.

US forces say their airstrikes have hit Iranian military targets along the coast, aiming to cripple Tehran's ability to control the strait.

President Trump has not ruled out the use of ground forces for operations including seizing Kharg Island, the site of Iran's main oil export terminal.

Trump repeated his threats to strike power plants and bridges in Iran next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations.