In the early hours of Saturday morning, reports emerged of major explosions shaking Tehran, amid claims from Israel that it had carried out a preventative strike.
Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
As per on-the-ground reports, two powerful explosions were audible in the city on Saturday. Correspondingly, two plumes of dense smoke were observed billowing over central and eastern districts of the city.
“The type of explosions suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” a media outlet reported, though it did not initially offer additional information.
Context: Escalating Tensions and Recent Developments
The incident takes place against a background of severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Major events leading up to this strike involve:
- American Naval Deployment: A massive build-up of US naval forces in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
- Diplomatic Negotiations: Latest talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with indications of further talks planned.
- 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 missile program.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Allegedly, 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 earlier allegations, Iranian officials had accused the US of spreading “big lies” about its defensive capabilities. They dismissed assertions about missile development and protest deaths as unfounded.
These developments remains fluid, with further updates expected as events unfold.
