Explosions were heard in downtown Tehran on Saturday, with smoke seen rising over parts of the city, according to reports from Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground. Iranian media said several missiles struck University Street and the Jomhouri area, also known as Republic Street, in the capital.
The Fars News Agency reported that multiple missiles hit the targeted areas, though there was no immediate official confirmation from Iranian authorities on casualties or the extent of the damage.
At the same time, Reuters quoted Israel’s Ministry of War as saying that Israel had launched a “preemptive strike” against Iran. The statement did not immediately clarify the specific targets or objectives of the operation.
Sirens Across Israel, Nationwide Emergency Declared
Following the reported strikes, warning sirens sounded across Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement on Telegram that the alerts were activated to prepare residents for the possibility of missile launches toward Israel.
“All residents are instructed to stay close to protected spaces,” the military said.
In a separate statement, the army announced that the country would shift from “full activity” to “essential activity.” This includes the closure of schools, prohibition of public gatherings, and suspension of most workplace operations except for essential services.
Israeli media outlet Channel 12 also reported that airspace over Israel had been closed. The government later declared a nationwide state of emergency, likely in anticipation of possible retaliation from Iran.
It remains unclear what specific sites were hit in Tehran, but local reports indicate that the University Street and Jomhouri areas were among the locations targeted.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue in Parallel
The military escalation comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States. Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who has been mediating indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, said a peace deal could still be within reach.
“A peace deal is within our reach if we just allow diplomacy the space it needs to get there,” Albusaidi said in an interview with CBS News in Washington after brokering a third round of indirect talks in Geneva.
He described what he called a breakthrough in negotiations. According to Albusaidi, Iran has agreed never to stockpile enriched uranium. He said this step could permanently address concerns about Iran developing a nuclear weapon.
“If the ultimate objective is to ensure forever that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, I think we have cracked that problem,” he said. He added that Iran would degrade its existing stockpiles to the lowest possible level and convert them into fuel that would be irreversible.
“This is something completely new. It really makes the enrichment argument less relevant because now we are talking about zero stockpiling,” he said.
Albusaidi also met US Vice President JD Vance earlier on Friday. He expressed hope that all outstanding issues could be resolved “amicably and comprehensively” within three months.
Tensions High After US Policy Shifts
Tensions between Iran and the United States have remained high since former President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
The Trump administration had accused Iran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that any future deal must address not only Iran’s nuclear programme but also its missile capabilities.
When asked about the missile issue, Albusaidi said, “I believe Iran is open to discuss everything.”
