Early Saturday, accounts surfaced of major explosions shaking Tehran, amid claims from Israel that it had carried out a preemptive military action.
Powerful Explosions and Plumes of Smoke Reported in the Heart of Tehran
As per eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were heard in the city on Saturday. Correspondingly, two plumes of thick smoke were observed billowing over the centre and east of the city.
“The nature of these blasts suggests that this is a missile attack,” a media outlet reported, without immediately offer further details.
Background: Rising Tensions and Prior Events
This event takes place against a background of severely escalated tensions in the region. Major events leading up to this attack involve:
- US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of US naval forces in the Middle East, including the repositioning of carrier strike groups.
- Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's atomic program concluded without a deal, with suggestions of more discussions planned.
- Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a prominent American figure had described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued warnings regarding its missile program.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to settle the nuclear dispute or face severe consequences.
Reaction from Tehran
Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian officials had charged the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. They dismissed assertions about missile development and casualty figures as unfounded.
These developments is fluid, with additional reports anticipated as the situation develops.
