Israel launches airstrikes on Tehran, targets nuclear and military sites
Jerusalem: Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s capital, Tehran, early Friday morning, with explosions echoing across the city as Israeli officials confirmed that nuclear and military sites were targeted.
The strikes come amid a sharp escalation in tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors issued a formal censure against Iran — the first in two decades — for failing to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. In response, Iran announced it would establish a third uranium enrichment facility and upgrade to more advanced centrifuges.
Israel has long insisted it will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon — something Iran maintains it is not pursuing, though Iranian officials have repeatedly stated they have the technical ability to do so if necessary.
Reports from Tehran said residents were jolted awake by the sound of explosions in the early hours. State television confirmed a blast had occurred. Smoke was seen rising from the Chitgar district in western Tehran, though no known nuclear facilities are located there. It remains unclear what specific sites across the country may have been hit.
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously to journalists, confirmed that the attack had targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure as well as military sites. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant later confirmed that Israel was behind the strike, though he did not disclose the exact targets.
“In the wake of the State of Israel’s preventive attack against Iran, missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately," Defence Minister Gallant said in a statement. He announced a state of emergency and urged Israelis to follow instructions from the Home Front Command and remain in protected areas.
The strike caused global oil markets to react sharply, with benchmark Brent crude prices jumping nearly 5% on the news.
The White House did not issue an immediate comment on the attack. At the time of the explosions, former U.S. President Donald Trump was on the White House lawn greeting members of Congress. It was unclear whether he had been briefed, as he continued mingling and posing for photos.
Earlier in the day, Trump had stated he was encouraging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay any military action while diplomatic efforts with Iran were ongoing. “As long as I think there is a (chance for an) agreement, I don’t want them going in because I think it would blow it,” he told reporters.