The United Nations atomic watchdog confirmed that the nuclear facilities in Iran were left untouched after the recent attack in the Middle Eastern region. Reports started to emerge late Thursday that Israel has launched a retaliatory attack against Iran.
The incident became a matter of concern after multiple explosions were heard near a major Iranian air base in Isfahan
The incident became a matter of concern after multiple explosions were heard near a major Iranian air base in Isfahan. In response to this Iran fired air defence batteries and shut down flight operations in several parts of the country.
The attack came days after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones over Israeli territory. The ongoing turmoil between Iran and Israel started to escalate after Iran’s embassy in Damascus witnessed a devastating attack. It was alleged that Israel was behind the incident.
IAEA assures Iran’s nuclear facilities are safe
Hours after reports started emerging, the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made it clear that Iran’s nuclear facilities are safe.
The IAEA’s chief Rafael Grossi went on to urge both parties to maintain extreme restraint. “IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to #Iran’s nuclear sites,” the international body wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.
“DG @rafaelmgrossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely,” the statement further reads.
Sounds of air defence system engulfed the skies of Isfahan
Commercial planes began diverting their routes early Friday morning without any explanation. Later the Iranian media confirmed that explosions were heard near an airport in Isfahan.
However, Iranian News outlet Fars later revealed that the air defence systems in Isfahan were activated against “an object suspected to be a drone”. It maintained that three explosions were heard near an army base in the city’s northwest.
The Iranian province of Isfahan is located around 350km south of the capital Tehran. It is considered to be a strategically important region and is home to Iran’s several nuclear sites along with a major military air base.
The nearby city of Natanz is one of Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and has been repeatedly targeted by Israel in the past.
Amid the chaos, the Iranian officials stated that no missiles were launched in the region and its authorities have managed to take down three drones. Israel has yet to claim responsibility for the attack.
No ‘immediate plans’ for retaliation
Given the lack of information on the matter, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has “no immediate plan” to retaliate.
“The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed. We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack,” the unnamed Iranian official told the news agency.
