An explosion has occurred at Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas, Iranian media reported, without giving a cause for the blast.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency said that social media reports alleging that a Revolutionary Guard navy commander was targeted in the explosion were "completely false".
Iranian media said the blast was being investigated but gave no further information. Iranian authorities could not immediately be contacted for comment.
The port of Bandar Abbas lies on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway between Iran and Oman which handles about a fifth of the world's seaborne oil.
The reported explosion comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington after Iranian authorities quelled the biggest protests to convulse the country in three years, and also amid ongoing Western concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
The nationwide protests erupted in December over economic hardship and posed one of the toughest challenges to the country's clerical rulers.
At least 5,000 people were killed in the protests, including 500 members of the security forces, an Iranian official told Reuters.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday an "armada" was heading toward Iran.
Multiple sources said yesterday that Mr Trump was weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces.
Iran president says Trump, Netanyahu, Europe stirred tensions in protests
Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that US, Israeli and European leaders had exploited Iran's economic problems, incited unrest and provided people with the means to "tear the nation apart" in recent protests.
The two-week long nationwide protests, which began in late December over an economic crisis marked by soaring inflation andrising living costs, have abated after a bloody crackdown by the clerical authorities that US-based rights group HRANA says has killed at least 6,563, including 6,170 protesters and 214 security forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told CNN Turk that 3,100, including 2,000 security forces, had been killed.
The US, Israeli and European leaders tried to "provoke, create division, and supplied resources, drawing some innocent people into this movement," Mr Pezeshkian said in a live state TV broadcast.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced support for the demonstrators, saying the US was prepared to take action if Iran continued to kill protesters.
US officials said yesterday that Mr Trump was reviewing his options but had not decided whether to strike Iran.
Israel's Ynet news website said yesterday that a US Navy destroyer had docked at the Israeli port of Eilat.
Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Europeans "rode on our problems, provoked, and were seeking - and still seek - to fragment society," said Mr Pezeshkian.
"They brought them into the streets and wanted, as theysaid, to tear this country apart, to sow conflict and hatredamong the people and create division," Mr Pezeshkian said.
"Everyone knows that the issue was not just a socialprotest," he added.
Regional allies including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates,and Saudi Arabia have been engaging in diplomatic efforts toprevent a military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The US is demanding that Iran curb its missile programmeif the two nations are to instead resume talks, but Iran hasrejected that demand.
Foreign Minister Araqchi said in Turkey on Tuesday that missiles would never be the subject of any negotiations.
In response to US threats of military action, Mr Araqchi said Tehran was ready for either negotiations or warfare, and also ready to engage with regional countries to promote stability and peace.
"Regime change is a complete fantasy. Some have fallen for this illusion," Mr Araqchi told CNN Turk.
"Our system is so deeply rooted and so firmly established that the comings and goings of individuals make no difference."
