In the early hours of Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major blasts rocking Tehran, following claims from Israeli officials that it had conducted a preventative strike.
Loud Blasts and Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
According to eyewitness accounts, two powerful explosions were audible in Tehran on Saturday. Correspondingly, columns of dense smoke were seen billowing over the centre and east of the city.
“The type of these blasts suggests that this is a missile attack,” one news agency stated, without initially provide additional information.
Background: Rising Tensions and Prior Developments
The incident occurs against a background of sharply increased strains in the region. Major events preceding this strike involve:
- US Military Buildup: A significant build-up of US naval forces in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Latest talks between the US and Iran on Tehran's atomic program ended inconclusively, with indications of further discussions scheduled.
- Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a senior US official had described Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and issued threats regarding its missile program.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been presented to Iran to resolve the atomic standoff or confront severe consequences.
Iranian Response
In response to prior accusations, Iranian officials had charged the US of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. They rejected assertions about weapons development and casualty figures as baseless.
These developments remains fluid, with further updates anticipated as the situation develops.
