DUBAI (Reuters) – A strong explosion ripped by way of a army manufacturing facility close to the central Iranian metropolis of Isfahan on Thursday evening in what Tehran mentioned on Sunday was a drone assault by unidentified assailants.
Nobody has claimed duty for the explosion, which got here amid rigidity with the West over Tehran’s nuclear exercise and its provide of weapons for the Russian conflict in Ukraine, in addition to months of anti-government demonstrations at house.
Iran’s overseas minister mentioned the “cowardly” assault was aimed toward creating “insecurity” in Iran. The Protection Ministry mentioned the blast induced solely minor harm and no accidents. The extent of the harm couldn’t be independently confirmed.
“Such actions is not going to have an effect on the dedication of our specialists to make progress in our peaceable nuclear work,” Hossein Amirbadullahian advised reporters in televised remarks.
Iranian media footage confirmed a flash of sunshine within the manufacturing facility, which the official IRNA information company described as a munitions manufacturing facility. Footage additionally confirmed ambulances and hearth engines exterior the compound.
“At roughly 23:30 (2000 GMT) on Saturday night, a failed assault was carried out utilizing precision aerial autos on one of many ministry’s workshop websites,” the protection ministry mentioned in an announcement broadcast on state tv.
She added that one of many drones was shot down, “and the opposite two drones fell right into a protection entice and exploded. They solely induced minor harm to the roof of a workshop constructing. There have been no accidents.”
The assertion mentioned the assault “didn’t have an effect on our services and our mission… Such blind measures is not going to have an effect on the nation’s continued progress.”
Then again, the Islamic Republic of Iran Information Company reported, within the early hours of Sunday morning, that a large hearth broke out in a motor oil manufacturing facility in an industrial space close to town of Tabriz, within the northwest of the nation. No info was given about the reason for this hearth.
[1/2] Eyewitness footage exhibits what is claimed to be the second of an explosion at a army industries manufacturing facility in Isfahan, Iran, on January 29, 2023, on this nonetheless picture obtained from video. Gathered through WANA (West Asian Information Company) through REUTERS
Previous eruptions and fires
The Islamic Republic has prior to now accused arch-enemy Israel of planning assaults utilizing brokers inside Iranian territory. Tehran mentioned in July it had arrested a sabotage staff of Kurdish activists working for Israel who deliberate to bomb a “delicate” protection trade middle in Isfahan.
An Israeli military spokesman declined to remark when requested if Israel had something to do with the newest incident. Israel has lengthy mentioned it may assault Iran if diplomacy fails to curb Tehran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programmes, however has a coverage of refraining from commenting on particular incidents.
In Ukraine, which accuses Iran of supplying Russia with a whole lot of drones to assault civilian targets in Ukrainian cities removed from the entrance, a prime aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky linked the incident on to the conflict there.
“The logic of conflict is ruthless and murderous. It drives authors and accomplices onerous,” Mykhailo Podolak wrote on Twitter. “Explosive evening in Iran – drone and missile manufacturing, oil refineries. Did I warn you.”
A number of Iranian nuclear websites are situated in Isfahan province, together with Natanz, the main focus of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which Iran accuses Israel of sabotaging in 2021. Numerous explosions and fires have occurred round Iranian army, nuclear and industrial websites lately.
Talks between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since September. Underneath the deal, which Washington deserted in 2018 beneath then-President Donald Trump, Tehran agreed to restrict nuclear actions in return for sanctions reduction.
Iran has acknowledged sending the drones to Russia, however says they have been despatched earlier than Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine final yr. Moscow denies its forces have used Iranian drones in Ukraine, though a number of have been shot down and recovered there.
Iran’s clerical rulers have additionally confronted home unrest in current months, with a widespread crackdown on anti-establishment demonstrations, spurred by the dying of a lady detained for allegedly violating strict Islamic costume codes.
Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Modifying by Daniel Wallis, Cynthia Osterman, Josie Kao, Peter Graf and Mark Heinrich
Our requirements: Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.