Iranian state media reported that a "US-Israeli projectile" hit a military headquarters on the outskirts of Bushehr amid renewed tit-for-tat strikes by the US and Iran, but American officials denied that US forces were carrying out attacks at the time.

"Moments ago, a military headquarters on the outskirts of Bushehr was attacked and hit by a projectile of the American-Zionist enemy," Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted the deputy governor of Bushehr, Ehsan Jahanian, as saying.

Bushehr is the site of Iran's lone nuclear power plant. Authorities reported that a projectile had hit the perimeter of the plant, although US officials have not acknowledged striking the site.

Iran's Mehr news agency also reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas, but Iranian state TV later denied that report.

Amid the uncertainty, two US officials said the American military is "not currently conducting strikes," although it was not clear if the possibility existed for strikes later in the night or early on July 10.

On July 9, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his country was prepared to resume its military campaign against Iran if necessary and "with even greater force" than previous strikes.

"The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, in order to regain air superiority and strike again...in Iran, to eliminate threats, including a third time if necessary," Katz said at a military ceremony.

"If we have to go back, we will go back, with even greater force," he added.

Separately, Israeli ⁠Prime ⁠Minister ‌Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he and US ⁠President Donald Trump spoke by phone ⁠on ‌July 9 and that ‌Trump ⁠updated Netanyahu ‌on "American moves in the Gulf."

Netanyahu also told a ceremony that said Iran had been weakened by the two previous military campaigns Israel had launched against it, but he also acknowledged that the conflict was not yet over.