In the early hours of Saturday morning, reports emerged of major blasts rocking the Iranian capital, following statements from Israel that it had carried out a preemptive strike.
Loud Blasts and Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran
According to on-the-ground reports, two loud blasts were audible in Tehran on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, columns of dense smoke were seen rising over the centre and east of the city.
“The type of these blasts suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” a media outlet reported, without initially provide further details.
Background: Rising Strains and Prior Events
The incident takes place against a background of severely escalated strains in the Middle East. Major developments leading up to this strike involve:
- American Naval Deployment: A massive build-up of American warships in the Middle East, including the movement of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's atomic program ended inconclusively, with indications of further discussions planned.
- Public Statements: Prior to the attack, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued threats regarding its missile program.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to settle the atomic standoff or face serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
In response to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the United States of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. They dismissed claims about missile development and casualty figures as baseless.
These developments is fluid, with further updates expected as the situation develops.
