In the early hours of Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major blasts shaking the Iranian capital, amid statements from Israel that it had carried out a preemptive strike.
Loud Blasts and Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
According to eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were audible in Tehran on Saturday. Simultaneously, two plumes of dense smoke were seen rising over the centre and east of the city.
“The nature of explosions suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” a media outlet stated, though it did not immediately provide additional information.
Background: Escalating Tensions and Recent Events
The incident takes place against a background of severely escalated tensions in the region. Key events leading up to this attack involve:
- American Naval Deployment: A massive buildup of US naval forces in the Middle East, including the movement of aircraft carriers.
- Diplomatic Negotiations: Recent talks between the United States and Iranian officials on Tehran's atomic program ended inconclusively, with suggestions of more discussions planned.
- Public Statements: Before the attack, a senior US official had described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered threats regarding its weapons development.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Allegedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to settle the nuclear dispute or confront severe consequences.
Reaction from Tehran
Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. Officials dismissed assertions about missile development and casualty figures as baseless.
These developments remains fast-moving, with further updates anticipated as events unfold.
