Iran fired up its air defence system early this morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Isfahan is also home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear programme.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.IRNA said the defences were fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds of explosion.
Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting their flights around western Iran about 4.30am local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.
Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.