In the early hours of Saturday, accounts surfaced of major blasts rocking Tehran, amid statements from Israel that it had conducted a preventative strike.
Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
According to eyewitness accounts, two powerful explosions were audible in the city on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, two plumes of dense smoke were seen billowing over central and eastern districts of the city.
“The nature of these blasts suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” one news agency reported, without immediately provide further details.
Context: Escalating Strains and Recent Developments
The incident takes place against a background of sharply increased tensions in the region. Major events preceding this attack involve:
- US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of US naval forces in the region, including the repositioning of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the United States and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with indications of more talks planned.
- Public Statements: Prior to the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and issued threats regarding its weapons development.
- Ultimatum: Reportedly, a time limit of roughly two weeks had been presented to Iran to settle the atomic standoff or confront serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
In response to prior accusations, Iranian authorities had charged the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. Officials dismissed assertions about missile development and casualty figures as baseless.
The situation is fluid, with further updates expected as the situation develops.
