TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Explosions were heard Friday morning in Tehran, state TV reported, as Israel said it had launched a “preemptive strike” on Iran.

“Loud explosions being heard in different locations of the capital Tehran,” state TV reported without providing details. AFP correspondents also heard the blasts.

Iranian state TV said the “source of the sound remains unknown”.

But defence minister Israel Katz said early Friday that Israel had conducted a “preemptive strike against Iran” and that “a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future”.

The blasts took place after US President Donald Trump warned that Israel could soon strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

Trump, whose administration is in talks with Iran in a bid to hammer out a deal over its nuclear programme, said he had urged ally Israel to hold off as he stressed his commitment to a diplomatic solution.

“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if an Israeli attack loomed.

Trump said he believed a “pretty good” deal on Iran’s nuclear program was “fairly close,” but said that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement.

US Middle East pointman Steve Witkoff is set to hold a sixth round of talks with Iran on Sunday in Oman, which has mediated efforts towards a nuclear deal so far.

The United States and other Western countries, along with Israel, have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it has repeatedly denied.

Israel again called for global action after the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency accused Iran on Wednesday of non-compliance with its obligations.

Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, slammed the resolution as “extremist” and blamed Israeli influence.