In the early hours of Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major explosions shaking Tehran, amid statements from Israeli officials that it had conducted a preemptive military action.
Loud Blasts and Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran
As per on-the-ground reports, two loud blasts were heard in the city on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, columns of dense smoke were seen rising over the centre and east of the city.
“The type of these blasts indicates that this is a missile attack,” a media outlet reported, without immediately offer additional information.
Background: Escalating Tensions and Recent Developments
The incident occurs against a background of sharply increased tensions in the region. Key events leading up to this attack include:
- US Military Buildup: A massive buildup of American warships in the region, featuring the movement of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the United States and Iran on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with indications of further talks scheduled.
- Public Statements: Before the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and delivered warnings regarding its weapons development.
- Ultimatum: Reportedly, a time limit of roughly two weeks had been given to Iran to resolve the atomic standoff or confront serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
Reacting to prior accusations, Iranian authorities had charged the United States of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. They rejected claims about missile development and protest deaths as unfounded.
These developments remains fluid, with further updates expected as events unfold.
