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In the early hours of Saturday, accounts surfaced of major explosions rocking the Iranian capital, following claims from Israel that it had carried out a preventative strike.

Loud Blasts and Smoke Witnessed in Central Tehran

As per on-the-ground reports, two powerful explosions were audible in Tehran on Saturday. Simultaneously, two plumes of thick smoke were observed rising over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

“The nature of these blasts suggests that this is a strike involving missiles,” a media outlet stated, though it did not immediately provide further details.

Background: Escalating Tensions and Prior Developments

The incident occurs against a backdrop of severely escalated strains in the Middle East. Key events leading up to this strike involve:

• US Military Buildup: A massive build-up of US naval forces in the Middle East, featuring the repositioning of aircraft carriers.
• Nuclear Talks: Recent talks between the US and Iranian officials on Tehran's nuclear programme ended inconclusively, with suggestions of further talks planned.
• Official Rhetoric: Before the strike, a prominent American figure had labeled Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and delivered threats regarding its weapons development.
• Diplomatic Deadline: Allegedly, a deadline of roughly two weeks had been presented to Iran to settle the atomic standoff or face serious repercussions.

Iranian Response

In response to earlier allegations, Iranian authorities had charged the US of spreading “big lies” about its defensive capabilities. Officials dismissed claims about missile development and protest deaths as unfounded.

These developments is fluid, with further updates anticipated as the situation develops.