The US and Israel have launched co-ordinated strikes throughout Iran, together with Tehran, on Saturday, in a “preventative attack”.
President Donald Trump confirmed a “major combat operation” in an eight-minute speech, stating Iran may by no means have a nuclear weapon and including: “It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer.”
Witnesses stated they heard the blasts within the Iranian capital, whereas footage seems to indicate columns of smoke rising above the town.
Iran and Israel have closed their airspace, whereas officers in Tehran stated their supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been transferred to a safe location.
The improvement comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme – its long-running effort to complement uranium, which Western powers concern could possibly be used to provide nuclear weapons.
In Washington on Friday, the US president, Donald Trump, signalled frustration with the newest spherical of negotiations. Speaking to reporters, he stated he was “not happy” with how discussions have been progressing.
“I’d rather do it the peaceful way, but they’re very difficult people…they’re very dangerous people,” Mr Trump stated.
Meanwhile, employees have been withdrawn from the British Embassy in Iran, whereas on the US embassy in Jerusalem, non-emergency US employees and their households have been advised to depart Israel as a result of security dangers.
Watch: Donald Trump confirms US concerned in navy strikes on Iran
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:58
Airlines hit by closure of Iraqi, Israeli and Iranian airspaces
Airlines within the area are dealing with heavy disruption as a result of airstrikes, with Kuwait’s aviation authority suspending all flights to Iran till additional discover.
A spokesperson for FlyDubai stated that their flights had additionally been impacted as a result of non permanent closure of Iraqi, Iranian and Israeli airspaces.
Meanwhile, the Russian transport ministry warned that flight instances and distances would enhance as they labored out different flight routes upfront.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:57
Trump: ‘We are going to raze their missile trade to the bottom’
In his video deal with, Donald Trump refers back to the current nuclear negotiations, saying: “We sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried.”
He adds that “we are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally … obliterated.”
The US president also said they were planning to “annihilate their navy”.
An Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran will retaliate.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:49
Breaking: Trump confirms ‘major combat operations’ in Iran
Donald Trump has confirmed US strikes on Iran in an eight-minute video on Truth Social, stating that Washington had begun “major combat operations”.
In his first comments since Saturday’s strikes, the US president said: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
He said Tehran’s “menacing actions immediately endanger the United States, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies all through the world”.
“For 47 years,” Trump adds, “the Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ and waged an endless marketing campaign of bloodshed.”
He continued: “It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer.”
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:38
Explosions heard in five cities as missiles hit near presidential palace
Explosions have been heard in cities across Iran, according to Iranian media.
The Fars news agency reports that explosions were heard in the cities of Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.
Tasnim News Agency reports that seven missiles have hit areas near the presidential palace and supreme leader Khamenei’s compound.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:35
In pictures: Smoke seen above Tehran as Israel and US launch strikes
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:32
US airstrikes being carried out by air and sea
US strikes against Iran are being carried out by air and sea, a U.S. official told Reuters on Saturday.
They are being carried out in co-ordination with Israel.
A US official told CNN that the strikes were focused on military targets.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:31
Iran preparing for ‘crushing’ retaliation
An Iranian official has said that Tehran is preparing for retaliation and stated that the response will be ‘crushing’, Reuters reports.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:25
Both Iran and Israel close airspace to civilian flights
Officials have confirmed that both Israel and Iran have closed their airspace to civilian flights following the attack on Iran on Saturday morning.
The Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reports Iran’s airspace has also been closed as strikes are underway.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:23
Iran’s supreme leader transferred to secure location, official says
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a secure location, an official told Reuters on Saturday.
Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, with multiple explosions reported in Tehran.
Holly Evans28 February 2026 07:16
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-israel-strikes-trump-live-updates-b2929362.html