Blasts reported across Tehran as regional powers brace for further escalation
Explosions were reported across eastern and western Tehran on Saturday, including near Mehrabad Airport, as officials from the U.S. Department of State confirmed that American military strikes on Iran were underway.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been moved from the capital to a secure location, an official told Reuters. Following the strikes, the US Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place order for personnel and advised American citizens in Qatar to remain indoors.
The escalation follows Israel’s earlier pre-emptive strike on Iran. The Israel Ministry of Defence claimed responsibility for explosions heard in central Tehran, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, which reported thick smoke rising over parts of the city.
In response, authorities in Israel closed schools nationwide, banned public gatherings, and urged residents to work from home. Air raid sirens were described as precautionary.
Separately, Pakistan issued a travel advisory urging its citizens in Iran to exercise caution as tensions continue to mount across the region.
https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2027632681362854112

