Multiple explosions rocked downtown Tehran on Saturday after Israel announced it had launched a large-scale military strike on Iran’s capital in what it described as a “pre-emptive attack” aimed at reducing Tehran’s perceived threats. Witnesses reported thick columns of smoke rising over central districts, including areas near the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between Tehran, Jerusalem and Washington.
Amid the bombardment, Iranian state and international media cited an official source confirming that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran. The 86-year-old leader has reportedly been moved to a secure and undisclosed location. Iranian authorities have not provided further details about his exact whereabouts or his health, raising questions about Iran’s command continuity as the crisis unfolds.
