Aerial photo of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group operating in the Arabian Sea, escorted by two military supply ships and two U.S. Coast Guard ships, as fighter jets from Carrier Air Wing 9 conduct flight operations over the Arabian Sea, February 6, 2026.
US Centcom | Anadolu | Getty Images
Israel launched a midday attack on the Iranian capital on Saturday, sending smoke billowing from the city’s downtown, according to the Associated Press.
It was not immediately clear what the target was. But the latest attack comes as the United States is amassing a large fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to pressure a deal over Iran’s nuclear program.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attack was carried out “to eliminate the threat.” He did not immediately provide further details.
Witnesses in Tehran heard explosions. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion without specifying the cause.
At the same time, sirens rang throughout Israel. The Israeli military announced that it had issued an “active alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched 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” would happen if Iran did not reach a deal over the future of its nuclear program. The attack came after a major build-up of military assets in the oil-rich Middle East region.
The United States and Iran held a third round of talks in Switzerland on Thursday aimed at resolving the conflict.
Ahead of the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s reluctance to talk about its ballistic missile program alongside its nuclear program was a “big, big problem.” Iran has said it is willing to compromise on its nuclear program, but has repeatedly said its missile program was never on the agenda for talks.
There have long been signs that Washington is losing patience with Iran after the White House announced after the last meeting that Iran was not meeting its core demands.
This photo combination made on April 9, 2025 shows U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (left) after meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells AFP during an interview at the Iranian Consulate General in Jeddah on March 7, 2025.
Evelyn Hochstein Amer Hirabi | AFP | Getty Images
In early February, Iran reportedly said in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres that it would respond “firmly” if Tehran were to be attacked militarily.
Energy market participants are closely monitoring rising geopolitical tensions, with oil prices rising to six-month highs since Trump took office, amid concerns about a potential supply shock.
Iran, a founding member of OPEC, is a major oil producer and is located at the center of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Last June, the United States launched attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities that intelligence officials suggested caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program. In response, Iran reportedly launched a retaliatory attack on a US air base in Qatar, causing minor damage but no casualties.
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