Drones loaded with bombs focused a army manufacturing facility on the coronary heart of the central Iranian metropolis of Isfahan, authorities mentioned Sunday, inflicting a big explosion and minor harm to the power.

The incident served as the most recent flashpoint for rising tensions over the nation’s nuclear program and its provide of drones to Russia — the information drew a celebratory response from Kyiv that earned its personal rebuke from Tehran on Monday.

There was no rapid info on who may need carried out the assault, however focus rapidly turned to Israel, which has been engaged in a shadow warfare with the Islamic Republic and is suspected of being behind numerous related assaults in recent times.

‘Defensive traps’

The Iranian protection ministry confirmed one in all its workshop complexes had come below assault Saturday from numerous Micro Aerial Autos (MAVs), however mentioned the complicated’s air defenses had efficiently repelled the assault.

A loud blast was heard on the army plant in Isfahan, however a safety official mentioned there have been no casualties, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB mentioned on its web site Sunday.

“The explosion happened in one of many munitions manufacturing facilities of the Defence Ministry and based on an announcement by the political and safety deputy head of Isfahan Governorate,” IRIB reported, with out giving additional particulars.

Three quadcopters outfitted with bombs have been used within the assault, Iran’s protection ministry mentioned in an announcement shared with IRIB.  

“One of many MAVs was downed by the complicated’s air protection fireplace, whereas the opposite two have been caught in its defensive traps and exploded,” the assertion mentioned.

The ministry famous that the unsuccessful assault didn’t trigger any lack of life and solely led to minor harm to the roof of a workshop. The complicated, it added, continues its peculiar operations following the assault. 

Eyewitness video that has been verified by NBC Information reveals a small explosion and plumes of grey smoke rising as automobiles drive previous a house furnishings retailer geolocated as off the Imam Khomeini Expressway in Isfahan.

At a information convention on Sunday, Iranian International Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described the assault as “cowardly,” and warranted the general public that such assaults could have no impact on the nation’s general march towards progress, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

Israel is broadly believed to be behind a rising listing of incidents just like the drone assault which have hit Iranian army and nuclear targets in recent times. Benjamin Netanyahu, who just lately returned as Israel’s prime minister, has lengthy seen Iran as a grave menace.

A spokesperson for each the Israeli Protection Forces and the C.I.A declined to remark.

Talks to revive Tehran’s tattered nuclear cope with world powers have collapsed amid the regime’s lethal crackdown on anti-government protesters, elevating fears concerning the growth of the nation’s nuclear program.

The assault comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarks on a three-day go to to the Center East already fraught with considerations over the potential for escalation after spiraling violence within the occupied West Financial institution and Jerusalem. Washington and Israel additionally held a large joint army train final week.

In Ukraine — the place Russia has been utilizing Iranian-supplied drones to assault civilian targets throughout cities removed from the entrance traces — information of the incident prompted an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attract a hyperlink between the 2.

“Struggle logic is inexorable & murderous. It payments the authors & accomplices strictly,” Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted on Sunday. “Explosive night time in Iran — drone & missile manufacturing, oil refineries. [Ukraine] did warn you.”

Reacting to Podolyak’s feedback, Iran on Monday summoned Ukraine’s cost d’affaires in Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim information company reported. 

Russia’s overseas ministry on Monday condemned Sunday’s drone strike in opposition to its burgeoning ally and warned in opposition to “unpredictable penalties” that might escalate an already precarious scenario.

“Such damaging actions may have unpredictable penalties for peace and stability within the Center East,” overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mentioned.

Iran’s overseas minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, acknowledged final November that his nation had equipped Russia with drones, insisting the switch got here earlier than Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.