United States (US) and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated airstrikes on targets in Iran, triggering explosions and thick columns of smoke in Tehran.
The attacks followed growing frustration by US President Donald Trump over stalled negotiations on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, described the action as a “preventive strike.”
In a video message posted on social media, Trump said, “The United States’ military began major combat operations in Iran,” while speaking from his Florida golf club.
He added, “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
Trump also warned the Iranian military with “immunity” or “certain death” and told citizens that the “hour of your freedom is at hand.”
Iranian state television reported that President Pezeshkian was “safe and sound,” while the Fars News Agency said “seven missile impacts were reported in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts.”
An eyewitness told Agence France-Presse, “I saw with my own eyes two Tomahawk missiles flying horizontally toward targets. At first we heard a dull noise and thought it was a fighter jet.” Journalists in Tehran also reported hearing blasts and seeing smoke rise over the city centre.
Following the strikes, Iraq, Israel and Iran closed their airspaces, while US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain urged citizens to take shelter. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem, and Israeli authorities issued emergency alerts. The offensive came shortly after talks in Geneva, which mediator Oman said had produced commitments by Iran to limit uranium stockpiling and convert reserves into fuel.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected in Israel for talks, as Washington increases diplomatic and military pressure.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands.” The International Atomic Energy Agency also announced plans for technical discussions with Iran, urging cooperation amid fears that the escalating conflict could further destabilise the region. (AFP)
