Early Saturday, accounts surfaced of major explosions shaking Tehran, amid claims from Israeli officials that it had conducted a preemptive strike.
Powerful Explosions and Plumes of Smoke Reported in Central Tehran
According to eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were heard in the city on Saturday morning. Correspondingly, two plumes of dense smoke were seen billowing over the centre and east of the city.
“The nature of explosions indicates that this is a missile attack,” one news agency stated, without initially provide further details.
Context: Rising Tensions and Prior Events
This event occurs against a background of severely escalated strains in the region. Key events leading up to this attack involve:
- US Military Buildup: A massive buildup of American warships in the Middle East, featuring the movement of aircraft carriers.
- Diplomatic Negotiations: Recent discussions between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's atomic program concluded without a deal, with suggestions of further talks scheduled.
- Public Statements: Before the attack, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered threats regarding its weapons development.
- Diplomatic Deadline: Allegedly, a deadline of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to resolve the nuclear dispute or confront serious repercussions.
Iranian Response
In response to earlier allegations, Iranian officials had charged the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. They rejected claims about missile development and protest deaths as baseless.
These developments is fluid, with further updates expected as events unfold.
