©(IRANIAN STATE TV (IRIB)/AFP)
As information abounds claiming Israel conducted an attack on Iranian soil, Iranian authorities prefer to temper speculation, awaiting a thorough analysis of the explosions heard above Isfahan.
Iran's state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan Friday, as US media quoted officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.
Air defense systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country's official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the city of Isfahan.
Israel had previously warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel almost a week ago, in retaliation for a deadly strike -- which Tehran blamed on its foe -- that levelled Iran's consular annex at its embassy in Syria.
Fears of a major regional spillover from the Gaza war have since soared.
There had been no reaction from Israeli or Iranian officials to the overnight strikes and the extent of the damage remained unclear. Iran's Tasnim news agency, citing "informed sources," denied that Iran had been attacked from abroad.
"Contrary to the rumors and claims" made in foreign media, "there are no reports of an attack from abroad on Iran's central city of Isfahan or any other part of the country," Tasnim said.
Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that small drones carried out the attack, possibly launched from inside Iran, and that its radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace.
Fars news agency reported "three explosions" heard close to Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase, while Iran's space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian said "several" drones had been "successfully shot down".
Dalirian said on social media platform X there were "no reports of a missile attack".
"Reports indicate there was no major damage or large explosions caused by the impact of any air threat," the official IRNA news agency said.
However, Israeli sources quoted by Al-Hadath claim that nine IRGC positions were bombed in Isfahan.
There has been no damage to Iranian nuclear sites following explosions Friday in the center of Iran that have been described as Israeli revenge attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
"IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites," the Vienna-based agency said on X, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
The agency called for "extreme restraint from everybody" and added that "nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts".
Iran's Fars news agency reported "three explosions" were heard near Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase.
Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be "completely secure", Iran's Tasnim news agency said.
With AFP
Iran's state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan Friday, as US media quoted officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.
Air defense systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country's official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the city of Isfahan.
Israel had previously warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel almost a week ago, in retaliation for a deadly strike -- which Tehran blamed on its foe -- that levelled Iran's consular annex at its embassy in Syria.
Fears of a major regional spillover from the Gaza war have since soared.
There had been no reaction from Israeli or Iranian officials to the overnight strikes and the extent of the damage remained unclear. Iran's Tasnim news agency, citing "informed sources," denied that Iran had been attacked from abroad.
"Contrary to the rumors and claims" made in foreign media, "there are no reports of an attack from abroad on Iran's central city of Isfahan or any other part of the country," Tasnim said.
Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that small drones carried out the attack, possibly launched from inside Iran, and that its radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace.
Fars news agency reported "three explosions" heard close to Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase, while Iran's space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian said "several" drones had been "successfully shot down".
Dalirian said on social media platform X there were "no reports of a missile attack".
"Reports indicate there was no major damage or large explosions caused by the impact of any air threat," the official IRNA news agency said.
The senior military officer in Isfahan, Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoost, told state television that the loud sound people heard was caused by defense systems shooting at a target in the air, not an explosion on the ground.
However, Israeli sources quoted by Al-Hadath claim that nine IRGC positions were bombed in Isfahan.
No nuclear site damage
There has been no damage to Iranian nuclear sites following explosions Friday in the center of Iran that have been described as Israeli revenge attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
"IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites," the Vienna-based agency said on X, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
The agency called for "extreme restraint from everybody" and added that "nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts".
Iran's Fars news agency reported "three explosions" were heard near Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase.
Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be "completely secure", Iran's Tasnim news agency said.
With AFP
This Is Beirut
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