In the early hours of Saturday morning, reports emerged of major blasts shaking the Iranian capital, following claims from Israeli officials that it had conducted a preemptive strike.
Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran
According to on-the-ground reports, two loud blasts were heard in the city on Saturday. Simultaneously, columns of dense smoke were seen billowing over the centre and east of the city.
“The nature of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack,” a media outlet reported, though it did not initially offer further details.
Context: Escalating Tensions and Recent Events
The incident occurs against a background of severely escalated tensions in the region. Key developments preceding this attack involve:
- American Naval Deployment: A significant build-up of American warships in the region, featuring the repositioning of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Latest talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with suggestions of further discussions scheduled.
- Public Statements: Before the attack, a senior US official had described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued warnings regarding its weapons development.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to settle the nuclear dispute or confront serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its defensive capabilities. They rejected assertions about missile development and protest deaths as baseless.
These developments is fast-moving, with additional reports anticipated as the situation develops.
