Early Saturday morning, reports emerged of major blasts rocking Tehran, amid claims from Israel that it had carried out a preemptive military action.
Powerful Explosions and Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran
According to eyewitness accounts, two powerful explosions were audible in the city on Saturday. Correspondingly, columns of thick smoke were seen billowing over central and eastern districts of the city.
“The type of these blasts suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” one news agency reported, without initially provide additional information.
Context: Escalating Strains and Prior Events
This event takes place against a backdrop of severely escalated strains in the Middle East. Major developments preceding this attack include:
- US Military Buildup: A significant buildup of US naval forces in the Middle East, including the movement of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Latest talks between the US and Iran on Tehran's nuclear programme concluded without a deal, with indications of more discussions scheduled.
- Official Rhetoric: Before the attack, a senior US official had described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered warnings regarding its weapons development.
- Ultimatum: Allegedly, a deadline of roughly two weeks had been given to Iran to resolve the nuclear dispute or confront serious repercussions.
Reaction from Tehran
Reacting to prior accusations, Iranian authorities had accused the US of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. They dismissed claims about weapons development and protest deaths as baseless.
These developments remains fast-moving, with additional reports expected as the situation develops.
