U.S. official confirms strikes against Iran underway: Reuters
TOPSHOT – A cloud of smoke rises after an explosion reported in Tehran on February 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
– | Afp | Getty Images
A US official confirmed that American forces attacked Iran by air and sea, Reuters news agency reported on Saturday.
According to Reuters, an unidentified Iranian official said that many ministries in the south of Iran’s capital Tehran were targeted.
A Pentagon press official said the department received CNBC’s e-mailed requests for comment but did not provide further comment.
Israel earlier launched a daylight attack on Iran’s capital on Saturday, sending clouds of smoke rising from the center of the city, the Associated Press reported.
It was not immediately clear what the target was. However, the attack came as the United States gathered a large fleet of warplanes and warships in the region to put pressure on Iran. reached an agreement on the nuclear program.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attack was carried out “to eliminate threats”. He did not immediately go into detail.
Eyewitnesses in Tehran heard the explosion. Iranian state television later reported the explosion without giving any reason.
Sirens sounded simultaneously throughout Israel. The Israeli military said it had issued “a proactive warning to prepare the public for the possibility of missile launches against the state of Israel.”
The US military declined to immediately comment on the attack.
President Donald Trump warned in early February that “really bad things” could happen if Tehran did not reach an agreement on the future of its nuclear program. The attack followed the buildup of a significant military presence in the oil-rich Middle East region.
The United States and Iran held a third round of talks in Switzerland on Thursday to resolve their dispute.
Ahead of the discussions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s reluctance to talk about its nuclear program as well as its ballistic missile development program was a “big, big problem.” Iran has stated that it is ready to compromise on its nuclear program, but has repeatedly stated that Tehran’s missile program was never on the agenda of the talks.
There were earlier signs that Washington was running out of patience with Iran after the White House said Iran had failed to meet its basic demands following previous talks.
This combination of photos created on April 09, 2025, shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speak to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah, March 7, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Emir Hilabi | AFP | Getty Images
Iran at the beginning of February reportedly In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said Tehran would respond “decisively” if it was subjected to military attack.
Energy market participants are closely monitoring rising geopolitical tensions; Oil prices are climbing to their highest levels in six months after Trump, due to concerns about a possible supply shock.
Iran, a founding member of OPEC, is a major oil producer and is located at the heart of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Last June, the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities, suggesting that intelligence had seriously damaged Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran responded by launching a retaliatory attack on an American air base in Qatar; It reportedly caused minor damage but no casualties.
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