It seems Iran has spoiled the attack and is downplaying the incident, calling it an act of sabotage. Iran speculates the sabotage act came from inside and will be hunting down the agents that carried out the attempted drone strike. Iran does not want war.
Here’s a quick recap
- Iranian state media reports that Iran’s air defence systems were activated and three aerial objects were destroyed over the central city of Isfahan, as US media quoted anonymous US officials saying that Israel carried out an attack.
- There has been no official comment from Israel.
- Iran lifts flight restrictions in the country’s airspace, paving the resumption of flights in its major airports after several hours of suspension due to the reported explosions in Isfahan.
- Iran’s semiofficial Mehr News Agency reports that Isfahan is “completely calm and secure”, and that the city is back to normal after the reported explosions early on Friday.
- The Iranian state-owned news network Press TV reports that there was “no sign of explosion or damage” at a nuclear site near the city of Isfahan.
- US media, quoting US officials, are reporting it was an Israeli attack, but there has been no comment by the Israeli military.
- Syrian state media says Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage.
- Israeli officials had promised to hit back after Iran sent drones and missiles towards Israel on April 13.
- That attack was in response for the bombing of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Syria on April 1 that killed seven IRGC members.
‘Desperate attempt’ failed: Iranian MP
Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian parliament from Isfahan, says the “desperate attempt” from Israel “with the help of local agents” had “failed and brought new disgrace for them”.
“Let them know that we are at peak readiness to protect our dear Iran,” he wrote on X.
Israeli official says Israel carried out Iran attack: Report
As we’ve previously reported, US media have quoted US officials as saying that Israel had carried out the attack. The Washington Post also quoted an Israeli official as saying that it was Israel’s military that carried out strikes inside Iran in response to the Iranian retaliatory assault on April 13.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, said it was intended to send a message to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country, according to the report.
It also quoted a person familiar with a briefing on the attack, who also spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak about it, describing the strike as “carefully calibrated”.
‘Biden looks weak’
Neither side has been listening to him. Many responses from US Congress members have been largely supportive of Israel but also critical of Biden and in an election year this is not going to help him.
He is not exercising influence on the Israelis and not being persuasive with the Iranians as well. Biden also tried to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and that hasn’t worked either – so this is not looking good on the US president.
Jean-Noel Barrot, deputy French foreign minister:
“All I can say is that France’s position is to call on all actors for de-escalation and restraint.”
Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary:
“Japan is deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and strongly condemn any actions that lead to the escalation of the situation. “Japan will continue to make all necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from worsening further.”
Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights:
“Israel’s latest strikes on Iran are another violation of the prohibition on the use of military force under international law & the UN Charter, and threaten the human right to life.”
More countries call for restraint
The attack in Iran has raised fears of a further escalation in the region. Here are the latest international reactions:
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry says it is looking into reports of the attack and urges all sides to exercise “restraint” to prevent further escalation.
- Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has also called for de-escalation, saying the priority of the international community should be “to stop the massacre in Gaza and to ensure lasting peace” .
- For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that “Everyone must ensure now and in the near future that there is no further escalation of the war".
- The Netherlands says ‘recent developments very worrying’
- Italy urges ‘de-escalation’
- EU chief urges restraint
- China says opposes actions that ‘escalate tensions’
- UK’s Sunak: Significant escalation not in anyone’s interest
- Foreign minister says Russia told Israel ‘Iran doesn’t want escalation’
- UAE, Jordan join chorus urging de-escalation
- Oman condemns ‘Israeli attack’ on Iran
- G7 asks ‘all parties’ to prevent further Middle East escalation
- All Blinken says is US not involved in offensive action
- The G7 ministers’ communique, meanwhile, warned of new sanctions against Iran for its April 13 drone and missile attack on Israel and called on both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Oil prices surge
Oil prices have rallied amid fears of a wider escalation in the Middle East.
This morning’s reports sent shivers through markets, with both main oil contracts surging more than 3 percent on worries about supplies from the crude-rich region, while fears of a regional conflict saw equities tumble.
Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei each plunged more than 3 percent, while Hong Kong and Sydney were off more than 1 percent. There were also losses in Shanghai, Singapore, Wellington, Manila and Jakarta.
The rush for safety also saw the yen rally against the US dollar and gold jump more than 1 percent past $2,400, while US Treasuries climbed.
“It is now clear that the escalating shadow warfare between Israel and Iran … has finally ignited the powder keg in the Middle East, and we have moved decisively out of the shadows and into the glaring light of open conflict,” Stephen Innes, of SPI Asset Management, said.
“It should be noted that this is not a staged response to an Iranian drone attack but rather an indication that we have entered a new phase of this conflict, one that is likely to have significant and far-reaching consequences for Middle East peace and least of all risk markets.”
‘No plan for immediate retaliation’
A senior Iranian official has told Reuters there is no plan for immediate retaliation, adding that there was no clarity yet on who was behind the incident.
“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 official said on condition of anonymity.
Isfahan has been hit by quadcopters before
A military factory belonging to the Iranian army in Isfahan was attacked by multiple quadcopters in January 2023. The small drones had failed to damage the facility that was protected by air defence batteries and mesh wiring on its roof to counter small unmanned aerial vehicles.
Iran blamed Israel for the attack and arrested four people for operating on behalf of Mossad, the Israeli spy agency.
‘You’ve seen Iran’s response already’
According to army officials and state TV, three small unknown flying objects were shot down near an Iranian army air base, just northeast of the city of Isfahan, within Isfahan province.
This base is known as the 8th Tactical Air Base, which is home to Iran’s fleet of US-made F-14 Tomcats, which were purchased before the 1979 revolution.
An Iranian commander had told Iranian media that shots were fired at some objects and there was no damaged caused.
When he was asked whether or not this will incite the Iranians, he said, “You have seen Iran’s response already”, indicating that this attack most likely by Israel, could be for now, the end of this back-and-forth threats and counter-threats that have been made by Iranian officials as well as their Israeli counterparts.
Syria reports ‘material losses’ after strike on air defence sites
Syria’s official news agency SANA has quoted a military source as saying that missile strikes in the early hours of the morning had caused material damage to air defence sites in the country’s southern region.
The report did not specify the exact location and the extent of the damage but blamed Israel.
Israel’s Ben-Gvir on X: ‘Feeble!’
The far-right security minister has written “Feeble!” on the social media platform.
Itamar Ben-Gvir’s one-word posting followed reports of what some have described as an apparently limited Israeli strike in Iran that so far appeared to have elicited a muted response from Iranian officials.
Israeli opposition leader slams Ben-Gvir over social media post
“Never before a minister has done such a heavy damage to the country’s security, its image, and its international status,” opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X. “In an unforgivable tweet of one word, Ben-Gvir managed to sneer and shame Israel from Tehran to Washington,” he said.
The opposition leader was referring to a social media post by the far-right security minister suggesting that the suspected Israeli strike on Iran was weak. Ben-Gvir has been calling for a harsh military response after Iran’s retaliatory attack against Israel on April 13.
