DUBAI/WASHINGTON: A US official stated on Sunday that the overnight drone attack on an Iranian military factory may have been orchestrated by Israel. Iran claimed that drones that struck a military industry target near the central city of Isfahan did not cause any serious damage or casualties and that they were intercepted. It was not possible to independently determine the extent of the damage. The flash in the sky and the arrival of emergency vehicles at the scene were captured on video by Iranian state media. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Israel, Iran's arch-foe, has said for a long time that if diplomacy doesn't stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons or missiles, it will strike. However, Israel doesn't talk about specific incidents. Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, stated that no US military personnel were involved in the strikes in Iran but declined further information. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that US officials were pointing to an Israeli role in the attack, citing a number of unidentified sources. Reuters was informed by a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity that it did appear that Israel was involved. Other than stating that Washington had no involvement, several additional US officials declined to provide any additional information. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described the incident as a "cowardly" attempt to instill "insecurity" in the country, but Tehran did not officially assign blame. However, Hossein Mirzaie, a lawmaker, made remarks that were broadcast by state television and stated that there was "strong speculation" that Israel was to blame. The attack occurred amid months of anti-government demonstrations in Iran and tensions between the West and Iran regarding Tehran's supply of weapons, including long-range "suicide drones," for Russia's war in Ukraine. It was not possible to independently verify the extent of the damage. According to Iran's Defense Ministry, there were no casualties and only minor damage from the explosion. Amirabdollahian told reporters in televised remarks, "Such actions will not impact our experts' determination to progress in our peaceful nuclear work." Since Netanyahu returned to office last month at the helm of the most right-wing government in Israeli history, it would be the first time Israel had attacked Iran. A senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a direct connection between the incident and the war in Ukraine, where Iran is accused of providing Russia with hundreds of drones to attack civilian targets in Ukrainian cities far from the front. Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, "Explosive night in Iran." notified you." Iran has admitted that it sent drones to Russia, but it claims that they did so before Moscow invaded Ukraine last year. Despite the fact that numerous Iranian drones have been shot down and recovered in Ukraine, Moscow denies that its forces use them. 'Minor damage' "An unsuccessful attack was carried out using micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) on one of the ministry's workshop sites around 23:30 (2000 GMT) on Saturday night," the Defense Ministry stated in a statement that was broadcast by state television. "Minor damage" It stated that "the other two were caught in defense traps and blew up." One drone had been shot down. The roof of a workshop building was only slightly damaged. There were no deaths. Given the size of the drones and the location of the strike in central Iran, it was likely staged from within Iran's borders, according to a military official in the area. Separately, early on Sunday, IRNA reported a massive fire at a motor oil factory in an industrial area near Tabriz, a city in the northwest. Citing a local official, it later claimed that the fire was caused by oil leakage. Israel has been accused of planning attacks inside Iranian territory in the past. Tehran claimed in July that it had detained a sabotage team of Kurdish militants working for Israel who had planned to blow up a "sensitive" Isfahan defense industry center. Isfahan province is home to a number of Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz, the center of Iran's uranium enrichment program, which Iran claims Israel will sabotage in 2021. In recent years, there have been numerous explosions and fires near Iranian nuclear, industrial, and military facilities. Since September, no progress has been made in reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an easement of sanctions under the agreement, which Washington abandoned in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. The death in custody of a woman held for allegedly violating Iran's strict Islamic dress code prompted a crackdown on widespread anti-establishment demonstrations, which has also caused internal turmoil for Iran's clerical rulers in recent months.
DUBAI/WASHINGTON: A US official stated on Sunday that the overnight drone attack on an Iranian military factory may have been orchestrated by Israel.
Iran claimed that drones that struck a military industry target near the central city of Isfahan did not cause any serious damage or casualties and that they were intercepted.
It was not possible to independently determine the extent of the damage. The flash in the sky and the arrival of emergency vehicles at the scene were captured on video by Iranian state media.
The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Israel, Iran’s arch-foe, has said for a long time that if diplomacy doesn’t stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons or missiles, it will strike. However, Israel doesn’t talk about specific incidents.
Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, stated that no US military personnel were involved in the strikes in Iran but declined further information.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that US officials were pointing to an Israeli role in the attack, citing a number of unidentified sources. Reuters was informed by a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity that it did appear that Israel was involved. Other than stating that Washington had no involvement, several additional US officials declined to provide any additional information.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described the incident as a “cowardly” attempt to instill “insecurity” in the country, but Tehran did not officially assign blame. However, Hossein Mirzaie, a lawmaker, made remarks that were broadcast by state television and stated that there was “strong speculation” that Israel was to blame.
The attack occurred amid months of anti-government demonstrations in Iran and tensions between the West and Iran regarding Tehran’s supply of weapons, including long-range “suicide drones,” for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It was not possible to independently verify the extent of the damage. According to Iran’s Defense Ministry, there were no casualties and only minor damage from the explosion.
Amirabdollahian told reporters in televised remarks, “Such actions will not impact our experts’ determination to progress in our peaceful nuclear work.”
Since Netanyahu returned to office last month at the helm of the most right-wing government in Israeli history, it would be the first time Israel had attacked Iran.
A senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a direct connection between the incident and the war in Ukraine, where Iran is accused of providing Russia with hundreds of drones to attack civilian targets in Ukrainian cities far from the front.
Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, “Explosive night in Iran.” notified you.”
Iran has admitted that it sent drones to Russia, but it claims that they did so before Moscow invaded Ukraine last year. Despite the fact that numerous Iranian drones have been shot down and recovered in Ukraine, Moscow denies that its forces use them.
‘Minor damage’
“An unsuccessful attack was carried out using micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) on one of the ministry’s workshop sites around 23:30 (2000 GMT) on Saturday night,” the Defense Ministry stated in a statement that was broadcast by state television. “Minor damage”
It stated that “the other two were caught in defense traps and blew up.” One drone had been shot down. The roof of a workshop building was only slightly damaged. There were no deaths.
Given the size of the drones and the location of the strike in central Iran, it was likely staged from within Iran’s borders, according to a military official in the area.
Separately, early on Sunday, IRNA reported a massive fire at a motor oil factory in an industrial area near Tabriz, a city in the northwest. Citing a local official, it later claimed that the fire was caused by oil leakage.
Israel has been accused of planning attacks inside Iranian territory in the past. Tehran claimed in July that it had detained a sabotage team of Kurdish militants working for Israel who had planned to blow up a “sensitive” Isfahan defense industry center.
Isfahan province is home to a number of Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz, the center of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which Iran claims Israel will sabotage in 2021. In recent years, there have been numerous explosions and fires near Iranian nuclear, industrial, and military facilities.
Since September, no progress has been made in reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an easement of sanctions under the agreement, which Washington abandoned in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.
The death in custody of a woman held for allegedly violating Iran’s strict Islamic dress code prompted a crackdown on widespread anti-establishment demonstrations, which has also caused internal turmoil for Iran’s clerical rulers in recent months.
