Early Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major blasts rocking Tehran, following statements from Israel that it had carried out a preventative strike.
Loud Blasts and Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
As per eyewitness accounts, two powerful explosions were audible in Tehran on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, two plumes of thick smoke were observed rising over central and eastern districts of the Iranian capital.
“The nature of explosions indicates that this is a missile attack,” one news agency reported, without initially provide further details.
Context: Escalating Tensions and Prior Events
The incident takes place against a backdrop of severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Key events leading up to this attack include:
- American Naval Deployment: A significant build-up of American warships in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
- Nuclear Talks: Latest talks between the United States and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with suggestions of further discussions scheduled.
- Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued threats regarding its missile program.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been presented to Iran to resolve the nuclear dispute or face serious repercussions.
Reaction from Tehran
Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. They rejected assertions about weapons development and protest deaths as baseless.
The situation remains fast-moving, with additional reports anticipated as the situation develops.
