The situation is confused in Iran, after explosions were reported and an undefined number of drones shot down near Isfahan (center of the country) on the morning of Friday April 19. According to the authorities of the Islamic Republic, several devices were “successfully shot down” by Iranian air defense, but no information confirms “so far” a potential missile attack, said Hossein Dalirian, spokesman for Iran’s space agency. The area The Israeli army, which in recent days threatened a response to the Iranian attack on the night of Saturday to Sunday, did not wish to comment immediately. Follow our live stream.
At least three explosions heard around the Shekari military air base. “Several micro aerial vehicles were successfully shot down by the country’s air defense, there is no documentation of a missile attack so far”, said the country’s space agency. The explosions heard are not linked to “no major damage”assures the official Iranian agency Irna. “Important installations, especially nuclear installations, are completely safe and no accidents have been reported there”continues the state organ.
The Iranian president speaks without mentioning the explosions. From Damghan, in the northeast of the country, Ebrahim Raïssi gave a speech Friday morning without saying a word about the explosions reported a few hours earlier, which the authorities do not link to tensions with Israel. “Today’s explosion in the skies of Isfahan was linked to the firing of anti-aircraft defense systems on a suspicious object which did not cause any accident or damage”for his part declared the commander-in-chief of the army, Abdolrahim Mousavi, according to the Tasnim news agency.
No nuclear sites affected according to the IAEA. The UN atomic energy agency assures that there is “no damage” at nuclear sites after the reported explosions. The Isfahan region is home to a nuclear research center and processing plants. The IAEA continues to call “everyone shows extreme restraint and reiterates that no nuclear installation should ever be targeted during military conflicts.”
Fear of Israeli reprisals. In recent days, the Jewish state has repeatedly told its allies that it reserves the right to protect itself. “We have no comment at this time.”, an Israeli army spokesperson said on Friday when asked about the explosions reported in Iran. The United States, Israel’s historic supporter, had for its part warned that it would not follow Israel.