Israel launched a surprise military strike on Iran’s capital, Tehran, early Friday, with multiple explosions heard across the city. The dramatic escalation came as Israeli forces reportedly targeted Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. According to Israeli officials, the operation was aimed at key enrichment facilities, nuclear scientists, and Iran’s ballistic missile program.
State TV in Iran confirmed the blasts and announced the suspension of all flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country’s primary international gateway. Smoke was seen rising from Chitgar, a neighborhood in western Tehran, though no known nuclear sites are located in that area. The exact nature of the damage remains unclear.
The strikes follow a significant diplomatic rupture just a day earlier, when the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors censured Iran for its non-compliance with nuclear inspections—the first such move in two decades. In response, Iran vowed to construct a third uranium enrichment facility and deploy more advanced centrifuges, deepening concerns over the country’s nuclear intentions.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strike and issued a warning of imminent retaliation. “In the wake of Israel’s preventive attack against Iran, missile and drone attacks against our civilian population are expected immediately,” Katz said, declaring an emergency situation on the home front.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not tolerate Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Despite Iran’s public claims that it does not seek to build nuclear arms, Israeli intelligence has long suggested otherwise.
As explosions rocked Tehran, Brent crude oil prices surged nearly 5%, highlighting global economic concerns stemming from the escalating conflict.
The United States, although not directly involved in the strike, had been preparing for regional unrest. Some U.S. diplomats were pulled from Iraq days earlier, and voluntary evacuations were offered for American military families stationed in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump, who was seen mingling with lawmakers on the White House lawn at the time of the attacks, had reportedly urged Israel to delay any aggressive action to preserve ongoing diplomatic efforts with Tehran. “As long as I think there’s a chance for an agreement, I don’t want them going in,” Trump told reporters earlier in the day. As tensions spike, the world braces for potential escalation. Israel remains on high alert, and the global community watches closely for Iran’s next move in what could be the most dangerous chapter in the Middle East in recent years.
