Explosion Rocks Tehran Following Israeli 'Preventative Attack'
An explosion was reported in Tehran on Saturday, as Israel's defence minister confirmed the country had launched a preventative attack against Iran. Witnesses described hearing a blast in the Iranian capital, with Iranian state television acknowledging the incident but providing no further details. The explosion occurred near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though it remains unclear whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time.
Heightened Tensions Over Nuclear Programme
The attack comes amid escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, with the International Atomic Energy Agency warning that most of Iran's highly enriched uranium is stored in an underground tunnel complex at its Isfahan facility. Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60% purity, a level described as a short technical step from weapons-grade material, raising concerns among Western powers.
Trump Expresses Frustration with Negotiations
In Washington, US President Donald Trump signalled frustration with the latest round of nuclear negotiations, telling reporters he was "not happy" with how discussions were progressing. "I'd rather do it the peaceful way, but they're very difficult people...they're very dangerous people," Mr Trump stated. Oman's foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, expressed hope for a positive outcome while seeking "enough space to really close these remaining areas that we need to discuss and agree upon."
Embassy Staff Withdrawn Ahead of Potential Strikes
Meanwhile, staff have been withdrawn from the British Embassy in Iran, and non-emergency US staff and their families have been told to leave Israel due to safety risks. An Israeli defence official revealed that the operation against Iran was coordinated with the US, planned for months with the launch date decided weeks ago. Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights following the attack, with sirens sounding nationwide to prepare for possible missile launches.
Protests Continue Amid Military Threats
Protests in Iran have continued amid the threat of US strikes, with university students holding demonstrations calling for the government to be overthrown. This new wave of anti-government demonstrations follows last month's crackdown that reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths. The US has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal, with Israeli defence minister Israel Katz describing the attack as necessary "to remove threats."
