Heavy explosions were heard across several parts of Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Monday, according to journalists from the news agency AFP, as tensions in West Asia continued to escalate dramatically. The exact targets of the blasts were not immediately clear, but the explosions came shortly after Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes in central Iran.
Israeli forces reportedly targeted key security installations and missile infrastructure. Among the sites hit were a rocket engine production facility and several long-range ballistic missile launch locations, signalling a continued attempt to degrade Iran’s strategic military capabilities.
As the conflict widened, Iran carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Gulf countries. Bahrain sounded emergency sirens across the country, urging citizens and residents to move to safe locations following Iranian threats.
“The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” Bahrain’s interior ministry said in a statement.
Iranian strikes earlier in the day reportedly hit Bahrain’s largest oil refinery operated by Bahrain Petroleum Company. Following the attack, the state oil company declared force majeure, signalling potential disruptions to operations and supply.
The escalation follows recent strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian oil facilities — the first such attacks since the conflict began. These strikes reportedly targeted multiple sites across Iran, including installations in Tehran.
Regional tensions further intensified as Gulf states reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles.
Saudi Arabia announced that its air defence forces had shot down four Iranian drones that were heading toward the Shaybah oilfield, one of the kingdom’s major energy assets. Earlier, Saudi authorities also said they thwarted ballistic missile attacks targeting the Prince Sultan Air Base and drone strikes aimed at the capital Riyadh.
The United Arab Emirates also reported activating its air defence systems in response to incoming missile threats, underscoring fears that the conflict could spread across the Gulf region.
Amid the escalating war, Iran announced the appointment of a new supreme leader. State broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ali Khamenei was killed last week during joint US-Israeli strikes, marking one of the most dramatic developments in the ongoing conflict.
According to the broadcaster’s Telegram channel, Iran has already launched its “first wave of missiles under Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei towards occupied territories,” signalling that Tehran intends to maintain a hardline stance despite the leadership change.
The conflict also extended to Qatar, where the interior ministry warned of an elevated security threat after reports of missile activity. The country’s defence ministry later said its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack.
The growing exchange of missile and drone strikes across the region highlights the rapidly widening scope of the war, which has now entered its second week and threatens to destabilise energy infrastructure and security across the Gulf.
With multiple countries activating air defence systems and key oil facilities coming under attack, analysts warn that the conflict could trigger broader regional instability if diplomatic efforts fail to de-escalate the situation.
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