In the early hours of Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major blasts shaking Tehran, amid claims from Israel that it had conducted a preemptive strike.
Powerful Explosions and Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
As per eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were audible in Tehran on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, columns of thick smoke were observed rising over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.
“The nature of explosions suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” one news agency reported, without initially provide additional information.
Background: Rising Strains and Recent Events
The incident occurs against a backdrop of severely escalated strains in the region. Key events leading up to this attack include:
- US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of American warships in the Middle East, including the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
- Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's atomic program concluded without a deal, with indications of more discussions scheduled.
- Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a prominent American figure had described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued warnings regarding its weapons development.
- Ultimatum: Reportedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to resolve the atomic standoff or face severe consequences.
Iranian Response
Reacting to prior accusations, Iranian officials had accused the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. They rejected assertions about weapons development and protest deaths as baseless.
The situation remains fast-moving, with further updates anticipated as events unfold.