Iranian officials said the explosions were the result of Iran’s air defenses hitting three drones that were launched by “infiltrators.”
In its post on X, the IAEA added that its director general, Rafael Grossi, “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely.”
Mr. Grossi’s call for restraint comes after reports emerged that Israel had allegedly launched an airstrike on Iran in retaliation for its missile-and-drone attack on Israel on April 13, although government officials have declined to comment on the latest incident.
Iran reportedly shut down airports and airspace over the nation following the alleged strike although they were reopened later on April 19.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon declined to comment when contacted by The Epoch Times, stating “We do not have anything to offer at this time.”
Iran’s Strike
It comes after Iran launched more than 170 drones, more than 120 ballistic missiles, and more than 30 cruise missiles at Israel during an earlier strike this month, although almost all were intercepted by Israel and Western allies, including the United Kingdom and Jordan.Response to Israel Will Be ‘Immediate’
The attack killed two top generals in the IRGC—which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States—and five officers, including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was a senior commander of the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, and Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi, his deputy, according to Iranian officials.Israel has not claimed responsibility for that strike.
Speaking to CNN on April 19, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran’s response to Israel would be “immediate and at a maximum level,” if the latter were to take further military action against it.
“In case the Israeli regime embarks on adventurism again and takes action against the interests of Iran, the next response from us will be immediate and at a maximum level,” Mr. Amir-Abdollahian said. “If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive, and regretful for them.”
Mr. Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran does not “seek to create tension and crisis or increase such situations in the Middle East” which is already under pressure from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We sincerely hope the Israeli regime does not repeat the previous egregious error,” he concluded.
