Iran latest: US and Israel launch strikes on Tehran with explosions heard in capital
The US and Israel have launched co-ordinated strikes across Iran, including Tehran, on Saturday, in a “preventative attack”.
Witnesses said they heard the blasts in the Iranian capital, while footage appears to show columns of smoke rising above the city.
Iranian state television acknowledged the blast, while officials said the their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been transferred to a secure location.
The development comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme – its long-running effort to enrich uranium, which Western powers fear could be used to produce nuclear weapons.
In Washington, the US president, Donald Trump, signalled frustration with the latest round of negotiations. Speaking to reporters, he said he was “not happy” with how discussions were progressing.
“I’d rather do it the peaceful way, but they’re very difficult people…they’re very dangerous people,” Mr Trump said.
Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, expressed hope for a positive outcome as he sought “enough space to really close these remaining areas that we need to discuss and agree upon”.
Meanwhile, staff have been withdrawn from the British Embassy in Iran, ahead of the possible US strikes. At the US embassy in Jerusalem, non-emergency US staff and their families have been told to leave Israel due to safety risks.
In pictures: Smoke seen above Tehran as Israel and US launch strikes
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:32
US airstrikes being carried out by air and sea
US strikes against Iran are being carried out by air and sea, a U.S. official told Reuters on Saturday.
They are being carried out in co-ordination with Israel.
A US official told CNN that the strikes were focused on military targets.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:31
Iran preparing for ‘crushing’ retaliation
An Iranian official has said that Tehran is preparing for retaliation and stated that the response will be ‘crushing’, Reuters reports.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:25
Both Iran and Israel close airspace to civilian flights
Officials have confirmed that both Israel and Iran have closed their airspace to civilian flights following the attack on Iran on Saturday morning.
The Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reports Iran’s airspace has also been closed as strikes are underway.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:23
Iran’s supreme leader transferred to secure location, official says
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a secure location, an official told Reuters on Saturday.
Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, with multiple explosions reported in Tehran.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:16
Breaking: U.S. participating in Iran strikes
A U.S. official has confirmed that U.S. strikes are underway in Iran.
It is not immediately clear the full extent of its involvement, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:12
Israel’s operation against Iran was coordinated with US, Israeli official says
The Israeli operation against Iran on Saturday was coordinated with the U.S., an Israeli defence official told Reuters.
The operation was planned or months and the launch date was decided weeks ago, the official added.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:03
Protests in Iran continue amid threat of US strikes
People in Iran have continued to protest against the government as the US threatens military strikes against Tehran over its nuclear programme.
University students in Iran are holding protests calling for the government to be overthrown, The New York Times reported.
The new wave of anti-government demonstrations, which started last Saturday, comes after thousands were killed in Iran’s crackdown on protesters last month, per the NYT.
Namita Singh28 February 2026 07:00
Pictures: Explosion reported in Iran as Israel launches ‘preventative attack’
Namita Singh28 February 2026 06:59