Town of Isfahan has been focused in an Israeli strike in retaliation for the barrage of missiles and drones that Iran unleashed on the weekend.
The assault, details of which are still emerging, coincided with the birthday of Iran’s supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
To date, there haven’t been any stories of harm or casualties.
The place is Isfahan and the way important is it? Sky Information takes a have a look at Iran’s third-largest metropolis.
Comply with newest: Tehran has ‘no plan for immediate retaliation’
It was as soon as the capital of Persia
Positioned within the centre of modern-day Iran on the nexus of the most important north-south and east-west routes, Isfahan emerged because the capital of Persia in 1598.
Right this moment it retains a lot of its historical past and town is known for its Islamic structure similar to tiled mosques and minarets.
It is house to round 2.2 million folks.
The massive Naqsh-e Jahan Sq. within the metropolis was designated a World Heritage Web site by UNESCO.
Naqhsh-e Jahan Sq. in Isfahan throughout the competition of Eid-al-Fitr. File pic: Reuters
It additionally has an airbase that has lengthy been house to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, purchased earlier than the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
What connection does Isfahan have with Iran’s nuclear programme?
Iran’s nuclear analysis has lengthy been a bone of competition with the West – anxious that Tehran might be looking for to develop a nuclear weapon.
Israel has vowed by no means to let Iran acquire nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied having any intention to build a nuclear weapon.
There are nuclear amenities at a spread of areas throughout the nation, together with in and round Isfahan.
A nuclear website close to Isfahan in Iran in 2005. Pic: Reuters
The ability at Isfahan operates three small Chinese language-supplied analysis reactors, in addition to dealing with gasoline manufacturing and different actions for Iran’s civilian nuclear programme.
There’s additionally the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, positioned within the wider province however outdoors town itself.
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Nuclear website secure – Iranian media
What occurred to town within the Israeli strike?
Particulars are nonetheless rising in regards to the Israeli strike on Iran, together with any affect on Isfahan.
Air defences had been fired in a number of Iranian provinces, together with from a serious army airbase and nuclear amenities close to Isfahan, the place state media mentioned three drones had been shot down.
Iranian state media tv mentioned the nuclear amenities close to town had been “absolutely secure”.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company, additionally mentioned there was no harm however mentioned it was monitoring the state of affairs “very intently” and referred to as for “excessive restraint”.
Learn extra:
Iran’s response so far to Israeli strike is telling
Israel’s attack on Iran reflects badly on Biden
Israel appears to have carefully chosen response
Sky Information’s army analyst Michael Clarke mentioned Isfahan “would make sense” as a goal because it hosts one of many least delicate nuclear websites.
“It is a analysis website, about 3,000 or so scientists work there and there is not any proof this was focused on the nuclear website,” he added.
“However the truth that Isfahan is without doubt one of the cities that does numerous nuclear work can be symbolically fairly vital, I feel, if the Israelis are indicating that they don’t seem to be frightened to go after these websites.”