U.S. and Israeli strikes were reported near the Iranian city of Qom early Tuesday, while explosions were heard in Tehran and regional tensions deepened ahead of President Donald Trump’s 8:00 pm deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state TV and the deputy governor of Qom province said a bridge near Qom, south of Tehran, was hit, According to AFP. The reported attack came hours before Trump’s warning that Iran could face the destruction of bridges and energy plants if the waterway remained closed.
An AFP journalist in Tehran heard several blasts from the north of the capital but could not determine what had been hit. Iranian media also reported explosions in the city and said strikes in neighboring Alborz province killed 18 people, including two children. AFP said it could not independently verify casualty figures in Iran because of reporting restrictions.
Local Iranian media reported that early Tuesday strikes destroyed the Rafi-Nia synagogue in Tehran. That claim was not independently verified.
The fighting also disrupted travel inside Iran. Local media, citing the governor, said train service to and from Mashhad was canceled until further notice after Israel warned Iranians not to use railways until 1730 GMT.
Later Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution, seen by AFP, calling on Iran to stop attacks on commercial vessels and halt any attempt to obstruct navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has set a Tuesday evening deadline, 00:00 GMT Wednesday, warning that Iran could face attacks on bridges and power infrastructure if it does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Some legal experts have said attacks on civilian infrastructure may violate the laws of war, depending on the circumstances.
Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal, saying it would give the United States and Israel time to regroup for further attacks. Iranian officials have instead backed what they describe as a broader plan for a permanent end to the war.
Iranian officials have also called for sanctions relief, movement on uranium enrichment, and a new framework for the Strait of Hormuz.
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