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Early Saturday, accounts surfaced of major blasts rocking Tehran, following claims from Israeli officials that it had carried out a preventative strike.

Loud Blasts and Plumes of Smoke Witnessed in the Heart of Tehran

As per eyewitness accounts, two loud blasts were audible in the city on Saturday. Simultaneously, two plumes of thick smoke were seen rising over central and eastern districts of the Iranian capital.

“The type of explosions indicates that this is a missile attack,” one news agency stated, without immediately offer further details.

Background: Escalating Strains and Prior Events

This event occurs against a backdrop of severely escalated strains in the Middle East. Key developments leading up to this strike include:

• US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of American warships in the region, including the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
• Diplomatic Negotiations: Latest talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme concluded without a deal, with indications of more talks scheduled.
• Official Rhetoric: Prior to the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered threats regarding its missile program.
• Ultimatum: Allegedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been given to Iran to settle the atomic standoff or confront serious repercussions.

Iranian Response

In response to earlier allegations, Iranian officials had charged the United States of spreading “big lies” about its defensive capabilities. They rejected claims about weapons development and casualty figures as baseless.

These developments remains fast-moving, with additional reports anticipated as the situation develops.