Fresh uncertainty has gripped the Middle East after the United States and Israel reportedly carried out coordinated military strikes on Iran, triggering massive explosions in Tehran. The attacks have sparked intense speculation over whether Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s sitting president, was among the intended targets.
Residents in Tehran described loud blasts and thick smoke rising from an area that houses key government institutions, including the presidential complex and the National Security Council. Visuals circulating online showed dark plumes of smoke over central districts, suggesting strikes close to Iran’s core political infrastructure. Officials have not publicly confirmed the exact targets, leaving room for widespread concern and analysis.
Israel Attacks Iran: Were US and Israeli Forces Targeting Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian?
American and Israeli officials acknowledged that strikes took place but declined to provide details, citing national security sensitivities. According to reports, Israeli air raids may have focused on high-value locations, raising questions about whether Iran’s leadership, including President Pezeshkian, was directly targeted.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the military action in a statement and announced that Israel would enter a state of emergency. He said authorities were preparing for possible retaliation, prompting immediate defensive measures across the country.
Israel Attacks Iran: Why Did the Strikes Happen Now?
The military action followed weeks of escalating pressure from Donald Trump, who had warned Iran of consequences if it failed to meet demands related to its nuclear programme. During this period, the US significantly expanded its military footprint in the region, calling it the largest American deployment there in decades.
Just days before the strikes, American and Iranian officials held a final round of mediated talks in Switzerland over Tehran’s nuclear activities. The discussions ended without any breakthrough, effectively closing the door on diplomacy and setting the stage for military escalation.
Israel Attacks Iran: Israel Declares Emergency, Shuts Airspace
Following the strikes, the Israeli government moved swiftly to tighten security. Officials announced the closure of schools and workplaces and ordered the immediate shutdown of Israel’s international airspace. Authorities said these steps aimed to protect civilians in anticipation of potential Iranian retaliation.
Iran, meanwhile, acknowledged explosions in Tehran but did not immediately clarify the damage or confirm whether senior officials were harmed.
Who Is Masoud Pezeshkian?
Masoud Pezeshkian is a reformist politician and trained cardiac surgeon who won Iran’s snap presidential election on 5 July 2024. Born in 1954 in Mahabad, he later studied medicine at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and built a career that blended healthcare and politics.
He served as Iran’s health minister and later became the first deputy speaker of parliament from 2016 to 2020. With an Azeri father and Kurdish mother, Pezeshkian has drawn support from multiple ethnic communities. Earlier in 2024, Iran’s Guardian Council briefly disqualified him from elections, a decision later reversed, which he said followed a “good word” from the supreme leader.
Israel Attacks Iran: What Happens Next?
With Tehran on edge and Israel under emergency measures, the region faces a critical moment. Whether President Pezeshkian was directly targeted remains unconfirmed, but the strikes signal a dangerous new phase in US-Israel-Iran tensions, with global implications.
