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Early Saturday morning, reports emerged of major explosions shaking Tehran, following statements from Israel that it had carried out a preemptive military action.

Loud Blasts and Smoke Reported in Central Tehran

According to on-the-ground reports, two powerful explosions were heard in the city on Saturday. Correspondingly, columns of thick smoke were observed rising over central and eastern districts of the Iranian capital.

“The type of explosions indicates that this is a missile attack,” a media outlet stated, without immediately provide further details.

Background: Escalating Strains and Prior Events

This event takes place against a background of sharply increased strains in the region. Key developments leading up to this attack involve:

• US Military Buildup: A massive buildup of US naval forces in the Middle East, including the movement of aircraft carriers.
• Diplomatic Negotiations: Latest talks between the US and Iran on Tehran's atomic program ended inconclusively, with indications of more talks scheduled.
• Public Statements: Before the strike, a senior US official had described Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and issued warnings regarding its weapons development.
• Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a time limit of roughly two weeks had been presented to Iran to resolve the atomic standoff or face serious repercussions.

Iranian Response

Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian officials had accused the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its missiles programme. Officials rejected assertions about missile development and casualty figures as baseless.

These developments is fast-moving, with further updates anticipated as events unfold.