Iran to investigates possible drone attack on defense ministry complex

Iranian authorities are probing a potential drone attack at a defense ministry complex in central Isfahan that took place this week. The incident comes amidst tensions in the region between Iran and its adversary Israel.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news outlet on Wednesday, Tehran intercepted a drone attack against a defense ministry complex in Isfahan. Authorities said the report of the incident, however, needed further investigation. The outlet said that the attempted drone attack did not cause any damage.

“The Amir al-Momenin complex in Isfahan was the target of a failed attack by a small drone which was foiled by defense systems,” said the report.

“For now, I cannot confirm this as it needs more investigation,” said Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahidi when pressed by the media regarding the report.

Tehran has previously blamed Israel for such attacks, including the drone attack on a military factory close to Isfahan in January. Israel has not confirmed or denied responsibility for the incidents. The report by Tasnim also comes at a time of tensions between Iran and Israel, when Israeli air strikes in Syria hit Iran-linked targets and killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps that were military advisers in Syria.

During the drone attack in a defense ministry industrial center in January, Iran said it was able to intercept such an attack carried out by “mercenaries of the Zionist regime.”

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an agreement to follow up on the plans to reopen diplomatic ties, encourage visits of official and private delegations, and facilitate visas for Saudi and Iranian citizens. Both countries also agreed to discuss resuming flights. Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal, bin Farhan al Saudi and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, made the agreement during their talks in China in what would be the first formal meeting of the two officials in years.

“The technical teams will continue coordination to examine the ways of expanding cooperation including the resumption of flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations and facilitating the granting of visas for the citizens of the two countries,” said the joint statement.

The statement follows the agreement made by Saudi Arabia and Iran back in March to restore ties in a deal brokered by China.