Officials from Iran's “Khatam al-Anbiya” Air Defense Base have denied reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, where a research nuclear reactor is located, according to Ynetnews.
Iran's statement came after rumors circulated about explosions in the region, which authorities dismissed as false. No further details were provided regarding the origin of these reports or the nature of the alleged incident, the news portal noted.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that Israel, in response to Iran's October 1 missile strikes, might consider attacking military bases, intelligence facilities, or command centers, but not nuclear sites. However, the paper’s sources suggested that key Iranian nuclear facilities could be targeted if Tehran escalates further. Growing calls in both Israel and the US are pushing for actions that could set back Iran’s nuclear program for years.
The Economist similarly noted that an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites might be a response to recent missile attacks from Iran. The publication highlighted that Israel has been preparing for over 20 years to strike Iranian nuclear targets. Israeli military confidence in Iran’s vulnerability may have been bolstered after damaging a radar system at an air defense base in Isfahan in April, The Economist added.
On the evening of October 1, Iran launched a massive missile strike on Israel in retaliation for the killing of key figures in Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran claimed that 90% of the missiles hit their intended targets, while Israel reported that Iran launched around 180 missiles, the majority of which were intercepted. Israel’s military command promised to “choose the right moment” for a retaliatory strike, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned in Hebrew that future attacks on Israel would be even more intense.
US President Joe Biden, on October 2, stated that he did not believe it would be advisable for Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.
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Based on TASS materials