The New York Times, citing a US official, reported that US
strikes on Iran were underway. A source told Reuters that Iran's supreme
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a
secure location.
The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day
air war in June, follows repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike
again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
"The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack
against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," Defence Minister
Israel Katz said.
Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media
reported.
The US and Iran renewed negotiations in February
in a bid to resolve the decades-long dispute through diplomacy and avert the
threat of a military confrontation that could destabilize the region.
Israel, however, insisted that any US deal with
Iran must include the dismantling of Tehran's nuclear infrastructure, not just
stopping the enrichment process, and lobbied Washington to include restrictions
on Iran's missile program in the talks.
Iran said it was prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear
program in exchange for lifting sanctions but ruled out linking the issue to
missiles.
Tehran also said it would defend itself against any attack.
It warned neighbouring countries hosting US troops
that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington struck Iran.
In June last year, the US joined an Israeli military
campaign against Iranian nuclear installations, in the most direct American
military action ever against the Islamic Republic.
Tehran retaliated by launching missiles toward the US Al
Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest in the Middle East.
Western powers have warned that Iran's ballistic missile
project threatens regional stability and could deliver nuclear weapons if
developed. Tehran denies seeking atomic bombs.
