- Fresh explosions rocked Tehran after Israel confirmed it had launched a pre-emptive missile strike on Iran
- One strike hit near offices linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, though it remained unclear whether he was present
- Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz declared a nationwide state of emergency, closed airspace and ordered schools and workplaces shut
- The escalation unfolded against fragile US-Iran nuclear talks and followed a recent 12-day air war that saw strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Fresh explosions have rocked downtown Tehran after Israel confirmed it had launched what it described as a pre-emptive missile strike against Iran.
Source: UGC
Iranian media reported that several blasts were heard across the capital, with missiles said to have struck areas along University Street and the Jomhouri district.
Was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei targeted?
According to the BBC, the state-affiliated Fars news agency said additional explosions were later recorded in the north and east of the city.
This came as thick smoke was seen rising above parts of central Tehran, according to journalists on the ground.
The Associated Press reported that one of the strikes occurred near offices linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
It was not immediately clear whether Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly in recent days, was present at the time amid claims that he had been moved from Tehran to a secure location.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the operation and announced a special and permanent state of emergency across Israel.
In a statement, he said the attack was aimed at removing threats to the State of Israel.
“The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country,” read a statement from his ministry.
Sirens sounded across major Israeli cities, with the military issuing what it called a proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of incoming Iranian missile or drone strikes.
The Israeli military said schools and workplaces would be closed, except for essential services, and urged civilians to remain close to bomb shelters.
Israel’s Airports Authority announced the immediate closure of the country’s airspace to civilian flights and advised the public not to go to airports. The move signalled concerns about swift retaliation from Tehran.
Were the Iran-US talks successful?
The strikes come amid fragile diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Negotiations had resumed in February in a bid to avert another military confrontation, but progress has been slow.
Israel has consistently insisted that any agreement must go beyond uranium enrichment and include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as well as restrictions on its ballistic missile programme.
Tehran has maintained that it is willing to discuss limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but has rejected linking the issue to its missile capabilities.
Source: UGC
Iranian officials have also repeatedly warned that the country would defend itself against any attack and that American military bases in the region could become targets if the US joined Israeli operations.
The latest confrontation follows a 12-day air war in June between Israel and Iran, during which the US joined Israeli operations targeting Iranian nuclear installations.
Iran retaliated at the time by launching missiles toward the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military facility in the Middle East.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
