Flights Over Iranian Airspace Diverted After Blasts At Airport In Isfahan: Report

Days after Iran launched a drone strike on Israel, Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran.

Days after Iran launched a drone strike on Israel, Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran. Image used for representational purpose only. ( Image Source :Getty )

An explosion was heard at an airport in the Iranian city of Isfahan, Reuters reported, citing Iran's Fars news agency. However, the cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Several Iranian nuclear sites are located in Isfahan province, including Natanz, centerpiece of Iran's uranium enrichment program.

Following the explosion, several flights were diverted over Iranian airspace, as reported by news agency Reuters on Friday, citing CNN. Iran’s state television on Friday morning said that “big explosions” reported near the central city of Isfahan, news agency AFP reported.

The report further stated the suspension of flights over Tehran and other major cities in Iran. However, US media have suggested Israel’s involvement in the incident. Several Iranian nuclear sites are located in Isfahan province, including Natanz, centerpiece of Iran's uranium enrichment program.

This comes days after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in a retaliatory strike after a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria. Most of the drones and missiles were downed before reaching Israeli territory, as reported by Reuters. On Thursday, Iran told the United Nations Security Council that Israel "must be compelled to stop any further military adventurism against our interests" as the UN secretary-general warned that the Middle East was in a "moment of maximum peril," as quoted by Reuters.

Israel had said it was going to retaliate against Iran's April 13 missile and drone attack. Israel's assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200, according to Israel. Israel's military offensive has killed over 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local health ministry, as reported by Reuters. Iran-backed groups have declared support for Palestinians, launching attacks from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.