By: Fern Sidman

Multiple explosions rocked Tehran and other Iranian cities on Tuesday, prompting swift activation of air defense systems near critical nuclear infrastructure, even President Trump issued a dramatic call for the evacuation of the Iranian capital. The developments—shrouded in confusion, fear, and geopolitical tension—are the latest in a cascading regional crisis that has gripped the Middle East in recent weeks.

According to a string of emerging reports from Iranian state and dissident sources, including those cited by The Jerusalem Post, the capital’s skyline was pierced by what appeared to be anti-aircraft fire late Tuesday night. Witnesses speaking to Iran International, a prominent Persian-language media outlet based outside Iran, described hearing “several loud blasts” in the eastern and southeastern districts of Tehran. Residents reported panic in the streets as sirens wailed and social media lit up with images of glowing streaks across the night sky.

The Jerusalem Post report confirmed that explosions were also reported in Ahvaz, the capital of Iran’s Khuzestan province—a strategically vital, oil-rich region near the Iraqi border. Ahvaz has historically been a flashpoint for unrest and military operations and is home to significant Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure. The newspaper emphasized that such a broad geographic spread of reported attacks or missile defense activity suggests a highly coordinated or wide-reaching threat.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, Iranian news outlet Asriran reported that air defense batteries were activated around the highly sensitive Natanz nuclear facility. This site, long scrutinized by Western intelligence agencies and international monitors, is widely believed to be at the heart of Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts. Satellite imagery in recent years has shown expanded underground construction at Natanz, raising persistent concerns in Washington and Jerusalem over potential secret nuclear weaponization activity.

In a move that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, Trump took to Truth Social in the midst of the unfolding crisis. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he declared. “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!”

The Jerusalem Post report noted that Trump’s comments carry significant weight among regional players and have previously preceded dramatic shifts in policy or posture. His stark warning is being interpreted in some quarters as a signal of imminent escalation or a pre-emptive justification for a larger military campaign by Israel or U.S.-aligned forces.

While Iranian state media has offered minimal acknowledgment of the blasts, heavily restricting local coverage, international outlets are scrambling to verify the scope and intent behind the apparent attacks. The Jerusalem Post report speculated that these may have been precision strikes against IRGC missile depots, drone launch pads, or even foreign assets operating under the protection of Tehran’s military. The possibility that Israel may be involved was not discounted, particularly given recent Israeli warnings that Iran was nearing a “point of no return” in its nuclear program.

Security experts cited by The Jerusalem Post pointed to the Natanz activation as a red flag. “Activating air defenses at Natanz suggests that Tehran fears a direct hit on its nuclear capabilities, not just on peripheral military installations,” said one anonymous source familiar with Israeli strategic assessments. “It means they believe someone—likely Israel—may be preparing to take out the heart of the enrichment program.”

The broader regional context underscores the stakes. In recent weeks, The Jerusalem Post has closely followed an intensifying confrontation between Israel and Iran, marked by missile strikes, cyberattacks, and sabotage operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained publicly defiant, rejecting European-led calls for a ceasefire and vowing to neutralize Iran’s “existential threat” once and for all. In contrast, European leaders at the recent G7 summit urged de-escalation, appealing for Iran to return to the negotiating table under Gulf mediation.

For now, the full extent of Tuesday night’s events remains unclear. The Jerusalem Post reported that no formal death toll has been announced and no group or state actor has taken responsibility for the reported explosions. However, with Natanz involved, Tehran on edge, and Trump calling for mass civilian evacuation, analysts warn that the Middle East may be poised on the edge of a far more catastrophic phase of conflict.

The coming hours and days will likely bring further clarity—and possibly greater peril. But what is already evident, as The Jerusalem Post report indicated, is that “the long-feared showdown over Iran’s nuclear program is no longer hypothetical. It has arrived at the gates of Tehran.”