In the early hours of Saturday, accounts surfaced of major blasts rocking the Iranian capital, following statements from Israel that it had conducted a preemptive strike.
Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran
As per eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were heard in the city on Saturday morning. Correspondingly, columns of thick smoke were seen rising 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 offer additional information.
Background: Escalating Strains and Prior Events
The incident takes place against a background of severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Major developments leading up to this strike include:
- US Military Buildup: A significant buildup of American warships in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
- Nuclear Talks: Latest discussions between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with suggestions of more discussions scheduled.
- Public Statements: Before the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and issued threats regarding its weapons development.
- Ultimatum: Allegedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been presented to Iran to resolve the nuclear dispute or face severe consequences.
Iranian Response
In response to prior accusations, Iranian officials had charged the US of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. Officials dismissed assertions about weapons development and casualty figures as unfounded.
These developments remains fast-moving, with additional reports expected as the situation develops.
