The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran on Saturday, targeting missile and strategic sites in Tehran and other locations, citing escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes and what Washington described as imminent security threats.
The Iran strikes were ordered by United States President Donald Trump and described by Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz as a preventive operation aimed at degrading Iran’s missile capabilities. The action followed stalled nuclear negotiations in Geneva and growing disagreement over uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development.
Explosions were heard across central Tehran, with large plumes of smoke rising over the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts. Iranian state media reported at least seven missile impacts in the capital and confirmed that President Masoud Pezeshkian was unharmed. Emergency services were dispatched, although no official casualty figures were immediately released.
Donald Trump said in a video statement from Florida that US forces had begun “major combat operations in Iran” to eliminate what he called immediate threats. He stated that Washington’s objective was to dismantle Iran’s missile infrastructure and neutralise naval assets. Israel Katz described the strikes as necessary to prevent further escalation linked to Iran’s weapons development.
Residents in Tehran reported seeing low-flying missiles and hearing multiple blasts. An office worker told AFP that two Tomahawk missiles were observed before impact, initially mistaken for aircraft noise.
Following the strikes, Iran, Iraq and Israel closed their airspace to civilian traffic amid fears of retaliation. The United States embassies in Qatar and Bahrain advised citizens to take shelter. In Jerusalem, warning sirens sounded and Israeli authorities issued emergency alerts to residents.
The military escalation came days after nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva. Donald Trump said Iran was unwilling to meet US demands regarding enrichment limits and missile restrictions. However, Oman, which mediated the discussions, said Iran had agreed to eliminate uranium stockpiling and convert enriched material into fuel, according to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
Iran previously agreed to restrictions under the 2015 nuclear agreement. The United States withdrew from that accord during Donald Trump’s first term, reimposing sanctions that significantly affected Iran’s oil exports and energy sector.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Israel for further consultations on Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Rubio warned that refusal to address missile development would present a serious challenge. Washington also designated Iran under a new wrongful detentions blacklist over the imprisonment of US citizens.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations require seriousness and realism from Washington and warned against miscalculation. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed it will hold technical discussions with Iran and urged constructive cooperation.
The Iran strikes have heightened geopolitical risk across the Middle East, particularly for global energy markets. Iran’s proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments, has increased concerns about potential supply disruptions and price volatility.
