Several blasts were heard in central Tehran early Saturday, according to Iran’s state-linked Fars News Agency, raising tensions in an already volatile regional climate.

The reports surfaced shortly after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israel had initiated what he termed a “preemptive” strike against Iran. Israeli officials did not immediately provide operational details, including the nature of the targets or the scale of the action.

Authorities in Israel urged residents to remain near bomb shelters and other protected spaces amid concerns that Iran or its regional allies could respond. Emergency protocols were reportedly activated in several parts of the country as a precaution.

Iranian officials have long stated that they favor diplomatic engagement over direct confrontation and have denied accusations of preparing offensive action against Israel. As of early Saturday, there was no official statement from Iran’s military leadership clarifying the extent of the reported explosions, possible casualties, or damage to infrastructure.