Iran activates air defences suspecting drone attack near Isfahan

Nuclear facilities in the Isfahan province remained unharmed, Iranian state television reported on Friday after air defence systems were activated in the city of Isfahan against suspected drones. "No damage was caused as a result of the overnight attack," Siavosh Mihandoust, a commander of the Iranian army, said on state television.

As Mihandoust stated, the noise heard at night in Isfahan was caused by air defence systems targeting a "suspicious object."

In the early hours of Friday, Iran activated its air defence batteries in response to reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan. These reports were conveyed by the state news agency IRNA.

IRNA reported that air defence systems opened fire in several provinces. The semi-official news agencies Fars and Tasnim reported sounds of explosions but did not provide their causes. State television confirmed that a "loud noise" was heard around Isfahan.

The city of Isfahan is home to the main airbase of the Iranian army, as well as facilities related to its nuclear program.

The Iranian authorities announced that commercial flights in Tehran and the western and central regions of the country were grounded.

Hossein Dalirian, a spokesperson for Iran's civilian space program, on one of the social media platforms X, reported that several small "quadcopter" type drones were shot down. However, it is unclear exactly where this incident occurred and whether it is part of a larger event in Iran.