Iran has circulated an image online depicting a ballistic missile striking what appears to be the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, underscoring rising tensions as Israel and Iran exchange some of their heaviest attacks since hostilities erupted late last month.
The image was posted on X from an account previously associated with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and referenced the Khorramshahr ballistic missile, one of Tehran's longer-range weapons systems. The post included the message: "Khorramshahr is ahead."
Another accompanying message warned that "the Zionist regime has made a big mistake, and its consequences will make the regime desperate, by God's grace." The graphic shared online appeared to depict the missile being assembled in an underground facility, launched from a mobile platform and striking a coastal skyline resembling Tel Aviv.
The most recent post on X of an image related to Iran's "nuclear missile" appears to be from user@MujahidHus18946 (Baber Azam), posted today at approximately 14:10 GMT.
The post claims: "Iran successfully carried out a nuclear missile test. Now Iran has also become a nuclear-capable country."It includes a single attached photo purportedly showing the test or related missile/nuclear capability.
The account has low engagement (0 likes/reposts, 17 views), and the claim lacks verification from credible sources amid the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites. No mainstream or official accounts (IRGC, IDF, or news outlets) have posted confirmed images of an actual Iranian nuclear missile test in the past few days.
The post surfaced as Iran reportedly carried out overnight strikes involving cluster-type munitions directed toward Tel Aviv. Videos circulating online showed explosions lighting up the sky as projectiles descended toward the ground.
Cluster munitions typically open before impact, scattering smaller explosives across a wide area. In the reported attack, the weapons released about 20 submunitions, each carrying roughly 2.5 kilograms of explosive material, spreading over a zone estimated at around five miles.
Witness footage showed large fires breaking out at several impact sites.
Israel responded by launching what it described as a "broad-scale wave of strikes" against the Iranian capital Tehran. Explosions were heard across the city early Friday, with flames and smoke rising above several districts.
Residents described powerful blasts that rattled buildings and cut off electricity and internet service in some areas.
A man in his 30s told the BBC that the shockwaves lasted several minutes. "The house was shaking for five minutes straight. Last night was the worst night."
Strikes Before Dawn
Another resident said the strikes began before dawn. "I woke up to the sound of explosions at 5am and haven't been able to sleep ever since. It was terrible. They were hitting so hard that all the windows were shaking. It sounded as if a dragon was making noises."
According to figures cited in the report, at least 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began on February 28, when the latest round of hostilities between Israel and Iran erupted.
The escalating exchanges mark one of the most dangerous confrontations between the two long-time regional rivals, raising fears that the conflict could widen further across the Middle East.
