***This is a devloping story. We will provide updates as they become available.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, according to American and Israeli officials, as multiple explosions resounded in Tehran.
The attack followed months of rising regional tensions amid threats by President Trump to attack.
Thick smoke is rising from the district in Tehran where the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, normally resides, according to the Iranian newspaper Shargh. Tehran residents also reported seeing smoke rising from the district, where the presidential palace and the National Security Council are also located.
Sirens have sounded across Israel
Sirens sounded across Israel at around 08:15 local time (06:15 GMT), alerting people of the threat of a possible missile attack. The Israeli strikes happen amid diplomatic efforts between US and Iranian officials for a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear programme and avert a war, and negotiations were expected to continue next week.
Iran had made concessions in the talks, although US President Donald Trump – who had previously threatened to attack Iran to put pressure on its leaders to accept a deal – said yesterday he was not “thrilled” with the way the discussions were going.
Trump has ordered the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but has done little to explain why there could be the need to take military action now. Iran, meanwhile, has vowed to respond to an attack with force.