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US officials tell news agencies that Israel has started attacking sites in Iran as blasts reported in Tehran.
Several explosions have been reported in and around Iran’s capital Tehran, according to the state-run news agency Nour News.
“Loud explosions are being heard in different locations of the capital Tehran,” it said in a TV report, adding that Iran’s air defence system is on full alert and all flights at Iman Khomeini airport have been suspended.
While the Israeli military is yet to release an official public statement on the attack, it has reportedly confirmed to the Times of Israel newspaper that it has “launched an aerial campaign against Iran’s nuclear programme”.
The operation, dubbed “Nation of Lions”, has seen Israeli fighter jets bomb dozens of targets related to Iran’s nuclear programme and other military facilities, the outlet reported.
The Israeli military told the outlet that Iran has enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear bombs within days and it needed to act against this “imminent threat”.
Sirens have sounded across Israel as a preemptive warning as Israeli authorities prepare for a potential Iranian response. In a post on X, the Israeli military announced that Israel’s civil and public security guidelines had been changed to “essential activity” as of 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
“The guidelines include: a ban on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential businesses,” it said.
Israel’s Transportation Ministry has confirmed that it has also closed the country’s airspace for arrivals and departures until further notice.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late on Thursday that the United States was not involved in the strikes, as he urged Iran not to target American interests or personnel in the region.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” he added.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said on Wednesday his country would target US military bases in the region if nuclear talks break down and conflict breaks out with the United States.
“Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don’t come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us … all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries,” Nasirzadeh told reporters.
Washington and Tehran have held five rounds of talks since April as Trump seeks an agreement that would place constraints on Iran’s uranium enrichment.
Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher said developments over recent days indicated that US President Donald Trump “was told that there was going to be some sort of strike”.
“[Just] 24 hours ago the United States announced that it was going to start moving non-essential personnel out of the embassy in Baghdad [in Iraq] and also recommended that others in embassies around the region could also leave if they wish,” he said.
Fisher said that President Trump did not “want Iran to get a nuclear weapon”, but he was “hoping” that nuclear talks with Tehran would be able to avert a conflict.
“The big question now of course is how the United States reacts to any response from Iran. If they side with Israel that suggests that the nuclear talks are done,” Fisher said.
“Steve Witkoff still intends to hold another meeting with the Iranians at the weekend. Of course it’ll be up to the Iranians to decide whether or not they want to go,” he added.
