In the early hours of Saturday morning, reports emerged of major blasts rocking the Iranian capital, following statements from Israeli officials that it had carried out a preemptive strike.
Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
As per on-the-ground reports, two loud blasts were audible in the city on Saturday. Simultaneously, two plumes of thick smoke were seen billowing over the centre and east of the city.
“The nature of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack,” one news agency reported, without immediately offer further details.
Background: Rising Tensions and Recent Events
This event takes place against a backdrop of severely escalated tensions in the region. Major events preceding this strike involve:
- American Naval Deployment: A significant buildup of US naval forces in the region, including the movement of aircraft carriers.
- Diplomatic Negotiations: Latest discussions between the US and Iran on Tehran's nuclear programme concluded without a deal, with indications of further discussions planned.
- Public Statements: Before the attack, a prominent American figure had labeled Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and delivered warnings regarding its missile program.
- Ultimatum: Reportedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been presented to Iran to resolve the atomic standoff or confront serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
In response to earlier allegations, Iranian officials had accused the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. Officials rejected claims about weapons development and casualty figures as unfounded.
These developments remains fast-moving, with further updates anticipated as the situation develops.
