A strike near the Gulf coast in Bushehr — home to Iran’s only operational nuclear reactor — briefly triggered widespread alarm on Thursday when Israel claimed to have hit the site, before later retracting the statement, calling it a “mistake”

The target of the proposed strike is said to be Fordo, an underground uranium enrichment facility located deep beneath the mountains near Qom. This site has long been a focal point of international concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions

The collision, which occurred roughly 24 nautical miles off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, has added to concerns about maritime safety in one of the world’s most crucial shipping lanes

While international journalists remain restricted by the Iranian government, BBC Persian and other outlets have received a flood of personal testimonies via interviews and social media. Many residents, fearful of repercussions, spoke anonymously