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Early Saturday, accounts surfaced of significant blasts rocking Tehran, amid statements from Israel that it had carried out a preventative military action.

Powerful Explosions and Plumes of Smoke Reported in Central Tehran

According to on-the-ground reports, two powerful explosions were heard in the city on Saturday morning. Simultaneously, columns of thick smoke were observed rising over the centre and east of the city.

“The nature of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack,” a media outlet stated, though it did not initially offer additional information.

Context: Escalating Tensions and Prior Developments

The incident takes place against a backdrop of severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Key events leading up to this attack involve:

• US Military Buildup: A massive buildup of American warships in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
• Nuclear Talks: Recent discussions between the US and Iran on Tehran's atomic program concluded without a deal, with suggestions of further talks scheduled.
• Official Rhetoric: Before the attack, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism” and delivered threats regarding its weapons development.
• Ultimatum: Allegedly, a deadline of roughly two weeks had been presented to Iran to settle the nuclear dispute or face serious repercussions.

Iranian Response

Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the US of spreading “falsehoods” about its defensive capabilities. They rejected assertions about weapons development and casualty figures as baseless.

The situation is fluid, with further updates expected as events unfold.