DUBAI, Jan 29 (Reuters) – A loud explosion struck a military trade factory close to the central Iranian metropolis of Isfahan in a single day in what Tehran mentioned on Sunday was a drone strike by unidentified attackers.
There was no instant declare of duty for the blast, which got here amid rigidity with the West over Tehran’s nuclear exercise and provide of arms for Russia’s battle in Ukraine, in addition to months of anti-government demonstrations at residence.
Iran’s international minister mentioned the “cowardly” attack was aimed toward creating “insecurity” in Iran. The Defence Ministry mentioned the explosion triggered solely minor injury and no casualties. The extent of the injury couldn’t be independently confirmed.
“Such actions will not impact our experts’ determination to progress in our peaceful nuclear work,” Hossein Amirabdollahian informed reporters in televised remarks.
Iranian media video confirmed a flash of sunshine on the plant, which the official information company IRNA described as an ammunition factory. Footage additionally confirmed emergency automobiles and fireplace vehicles exterior the complicated.
“Around 23:30 (2000 GMT) on Saturday night, an unsuccessful attack was carried out using micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) on one of the ministry’s workshop sites,” the Defence Ministry mentioned in a press release carried by state TV.
It mentioned one drone was shot down “and the other two were caught in defence traps and blew up. It caused only minor damage to the roof of a workshop building. There were no casualties.”
The attack “has not affected our installations and mission … and such blind measures will not have an impact on the continuation of the country’s progress,” the assertion mentioned.
Separately, IRNA reported early on Sunday an enormous fireplace at a motor oil factory in an industrial zone close to the northwestern metropolis of Tabriz. It gave no details about the reason for that blaze.
[1/2] Eyewitness footage exhibits what is claimed to be the second of an explosion at a military trade factory in Isfahan, Iran, January 29, 2023, on this nonetheless picture obtained from a video. Pool through WANA (West Asia News Agency) through REUTERS
PAST EXPLOSIONS, FIRES
The Islamic Republic has prior to now accused arch-enemy Israel of planning assaults utilizing brokers inside Iranian territory. In July, Tehran mentioned it had arrested a sabotage workforce made up of Kurdish militants working for Israel who deliberate to explode a “sensitive” defence trade centre in Isfahan.
An Israeli military spokesperson declined remark when requested if Israel had a connection to the most recent incident. Israel has lengthy mentioned it might attack Iran if diplomacy fails to curb Tehran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programmes, however has a coverage of withholding touch upon particular incidents.
In Ukraine, which accuses Iran of supplying a whole bunch of drones to Russia to attack civilian targets in Ukrainian cities removed from the entrance, a senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy linked the incident on to the battle there.
“War logic is inexorable & murderous. It bills the authors & accomplices strictly,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. “Explosive night in Iran – drone & missile production, oil refineries. Did warn you.”
Several Iranian nuclear websites are situated in Isfahan province, together with Natanz, centrepiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, which Iran accuses Israel of sabotaging in 2021. There have been various explosions and fires round Iranian military, nuclear and industrial websites in recent times.
Talks between Iran and world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since September. Under the pact, deserted by Washington in 2018 beneath then-President Donald Trump, Tehran agreed to restrict nuclear work in return for relieving of sanctions.
Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia however says they had been despatched earlier than Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine final yr. Moscow denies its forces use Iranian drones in Ukraine, though many have been shot down and recovered there.
Iran’s clerical rulers have additionally confronted inside turmoil in latest months, with a crackdown on widespread anti-establishment demonstrations spurred by the demise in custody of a lady held for allegedly violating its strict Islamic costume code.
Reporting by Dubai newsroom,
Writing by Parisa Hafezi
Editing by Daniel Wallis, Cynthia Osterman, Josie Kao, Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.