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Early Saturday morning, accounts surfaced of major blasts shaking the Iranian capital, amid claims from Israeli officials that it had carried out a preventative strike.

Powerful Explosions and Plumes of Smoke Witnessed in the Heart of Tehran

As per eyewitness accounts, two powerful explosions were heard in the city on Saturday. Simultaneously, columns of thick smoke were seen rising over the centre and east of the city.

“The nature of these blasts indicates that this is a strike involving missiles,” a media outlet stated, without initially provide additional information.

Background: Rising Tensions and Prior Developments

The incident occurs against a background of severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Major developments preceding this strike involve:

• US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of American warships in the region, including the repositioning of carrier strike groups.
• Diplomatic Negotiations: Recent talks between the US and Iran on Tehran's atomic program concluded without a deal, with indications of more talks scheduled.
• Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a senior US official had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered warnings regarding its weapons development.
• Diplomatic Deadline: Reportedly, a time limit of 10 to 15 days had been presented to Iran to settle the atomic standoff or confront severe consequences.

Reaction from Tehran

Reacting to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had accused the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missiles programme. Officials rejected assertions about weapons development and protest deaths as unfounded.

The situation is fast-moving, with additional reports expected as events unfold.