Tehran, Feb 28 (.) Three explosions hit central Tehran on Saturday after Israel said it had carried out a pre-emptive missile strike against Iran. Iranian media reported that at least three blasts were heard in the downtown area, with missiles reportedly striking the capital, sharply escalating tensions between the two regional rivals, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
Iranian media reported that several missiles hit areas around University Street and the Jomhouri district of the capital. The semi-official Fars News Agency said explosions were heard in the Republic area, while smoke was seen rising above parts of the city.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: “The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel.”
The strike comes as President Donald Trump said that he is unhappy with the progress of talks with Iran over a potential nuclear deal.
“I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have. I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens. We’ll have some additional talks today. But no, I’m not happy with the way they’re going,” the president told reporters before boarding Marine One, reiterating his warning that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. “We’ll see how it goes.”
There are reports that at least one strike occurred near offices linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian outlets said three explosions were heard across central Tehran.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and ongoing diplomatic efforts with the United States.
The pre-emptive strike by Iran comes after a third round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran recently concluded in Geneva did not yield results as desired by Washington, with plans for a follow-up technical-level meeting in Vienna next week.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, US officials urged Iran to dismantle nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan and to transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium out of the country.
Iran is seen as unlikely to accept demands to destroy its nuclear infrastructure or relinquish its highly enriched uranium. US officials have previously warned that military action remains an option if negotiations fail.
The diplomatic push has unfolded alongside a significant US military buildup in the region, described by officials as the largest deployment of air and naval assets since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Refueling aircraft and A-10 ground-attack planes have reportedly been stationed at locations visible from civilian airports in Israel and on the Greek island of Crete.
President Donald Trump has publicly prioritised diplomacy while maintaining a hard line on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He has repeatedly asserted that Tehran seeks to acquire a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he does not believe Iran is currently enriching uranium but warned that Tehran appears to be attempting to rebuild parts of its nuclear infrastructure. He added that a negotiated settlement remains Washington’s preferred outcome, ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons and remains subject to international inspections.
Vice President JD Vance said potential US strikes on Iran would serve as a deterrent and would not lead to a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” he said in an interview with The Washington Post.
Despite the strong rhetoric and visible military presence, analysts note that questions remain over Washington’s red lines, including whether limited uranium enrichment for civilian purposes might be tolerated, and how far the US would go to curb Iran’s missile programme and regional influence.. .
