An Iranian senior official has revealed that Tehran does not plan to retaliate immediately against Israel following limited strikes in Isfahan province, where the Natanz nuclear facility is located. The strikes were in response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel the previous weekend, which were allegedly carried out in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The senior official stated that Iran has not confirmed the foreign source of the incident and believes it may be an infiltration rather than an attack.
The Israeli strikes in Iran were described as “limited” according to a well-placed military source, with no involvement from the U.S. and pre-notification to the U.S. from Israel. Iranian state media reported that three drones were shot down over Isfahan and that all sites in the Natanz area were deemed safe with no damage to nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the safety of the nuclear facilities and called for extreme restraint from all parties, emphasizing that nuclear facilities should never be targeted in military conflicts.
Details surrounding the target of the Israeli strike were not immediately available, but sources confirmed that it was not nuclear or civilian-related. As of early Friday morning, Pentagon officials have not confirmed the strike and the White House and the National Security Council have declined to comment on the situation. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely and Director General Rafael Grossi is calling for restraint from all parties involved. The unfolding situation between Iran and Israel remains tense, with both sides refraining from immediate retaliation.
The strikes in Isfahan province come amidst escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with recent attacks and counterattacks raising concerns about a potential escalation in the conflict. The Israeli strikes were reportedly in response to Iran’s attacks on Israel the previous weekend, which resulted in casualties including a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. However, the Iranian official noted that Iran currently has no plans to respond immediately and is still investigating the source of the incident, suggesting that it may be an infiltration rather than a direct attack.
The situation between Iran and Israel remains uncertain as both sides refrain from immediate retaliation following the recent strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed the safety of Iran’s nuclear facilities and called for restraint from all parties involved. The lack of confirmation from Pentagon officials and the silence from the White House and National Security Council add to the uncertainty surrounding the unfolding situation. As tensions continue to simmer between Iran and Israel, the international community watches closely to see how the situation unfolds and whether further escalation can be prevented.
