TOPSHOT – A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. (Photograph by AFP by way of Getty Photos)
– | Afp | Getty Photos
The U.S. navy has begun “main fight operations” in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday.
“Our goal is to defend the American individuals by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very onerous, horrible individuals,” Trump stated in a video message on his Fact Social account.
A U.S. official confirmed earlier that American forces attacked Iran by air and sea, the Reuters information company reported.
A number of ministries within the southern a part of the Iranian capital, Tehran, have been focused, Reuters quoted an unidentified Iranian official as saying.
Trump stated Iran has continued to pursue nuclear weapons regardless of ongoing negotiations to finish its program.
“in operation midnight hammer final June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow nets. And Isfahan. After that assault, we warned them by no means to renew their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal,” Trump stated. “However Iran refused.”
“As a substitute, they tried to rebuild their nuclear program and to proceed growing the lengthy vary missiles that may now threaten our superb pals and allies in Europe, our troops stationed abroad and will quickly attain the American homeland,” he stated.
A Pentagon responsibility press officer stated the division has obtained CNBC’s emailed requests for remark however made no additional clarification.
Earlier, Israel launched a daylight assault Saturday on Iran’s capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from town’s downtown, the Related Press reported.
It wasn’t instantly clear what the goal was. However the assault got here as the US has assembled an unlimited fleet of fighter jets and warships within the area to attempt to strain Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
Along with the capital Tehran, the cities of Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah have been focused.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Photos
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz described the assault as being executed “to take away threats.” He didn’t instantly elaborate.
The Israel Protection Forces stated it recognized missiles launched from Iran towards Israel.
“Defensive programs are working to intercept the menace. Up to now couple of minutes, the Dwelling Entrance Command has despatched a precautionary directive on to cell phones within the related areas,” the IDF stated in a tweet.
A senior Center East diplomat who has direct information of the current talks between Iran and the US has advised MS Now: “But once more when negotiations get near success … Israel has intervened to preempt diplomacy.”
Sirens heard in Tehran
In Tehran, witnesses heard the blast. Iranian state tv later reported on the explosion, with out providing a trigger.
Sirens sounded throughout Israel on the similar time. The Israeli navy stated that it had issued a “proactive alert to arrange the general public for the potential for missiles being launched towards the state of Israel.”
Airways began rerouting flights following the beginning of the assaults.
German provider Lufthansa stated it’s suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman till March 7, Reuters reported. Dutch airline KLM reportedly canceled flights to Tel Aviv from Amsterdam.
The U.S. embassy in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, issued a safety alert warning of “imminent drone/missile assault in Bahrain”.
In a tweet, the embassy urged “U.S. residents in Bahrain to shelter in place, evaluate safety plans within the occasion of an assault, and to remain alert in case of further future assaults. U.S. Embassy personnel are sheltering in place.”
Trump warned earlier in February that “actually dangerous issues” would occur until Tehran agreed to a deal over the way forward for its nuclear program. The assault, which comes after a major construct up of navy property within the oil-rich Center East area.
The U.S. and Iran had held a 3rd spherical of talks in Switzerland on Thursday to attempt to resolve a standoff.
Forward of the discussions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Iran’s reluctance to speak about its ballistic missile improvement program, alongside its nuclear program, was a “massive, massive drawback.” Iran had stated it was prepared to compromise when it got here to its nuclear program, however had repeatedly stated Tehran’s missile program had by no means been a part of the talks’ agenda.
There have been earlier indicators that Washington was dropping its endurance with Iran after the White Home stated, after earlier talks, that Iran was not addressing its core calls for.
This mixture of images created on April 09, 2025 reveals US Center East envoy Steve Witkoff after a gathering with Russian officers at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi chatting with AFP throughout an interview on the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Amer Hilabi | AFP | Getty Photos
Earlier in February, Iran reportedly stated in a letter to United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres that Tehran would reply “decisively” if subjected to navy aggression.
Vitality market contributors have been carefully monitoring the escalating geopolitical tensions, with oil costs climbing to six-month highs after Trump’s amid issues of a doable provide shock.
Iran, a founding member of OPEC, is a serious oil producer and sits on the coronary heart of the strategically very important Strait of Hormuz, by which about 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Final June, the U.S. launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear services, inflicting what intelligence urged was extreme injury to Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran responded by launching a retaliatory strike on an American air base in Qatar, reportedly inflicting minor injury however inflicting no casualties.
That is breaking information. Please test again for updates.
— Riya Bhattacharjee and Victor Loh contributed to this story
