Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian downplayed the attack, blamed on Israel, which hit central Iran on Friday, comparing it to child's play and adding that there would be no no Iranian retaliation unless its
“interests”
are targeted.
“What happened last night was not an attack
,” Amir-Abdollahian said Friday in an interview with American channel NBC.
On Friday, Iranian state media reported that detonations were heard at dawn near a military base in the Isfahan area, after
"several"
small drones were
"successfully shot down"
by the
" air defense system”
of the country.
American media, citing American officials, claimed that it was an Israeli operation carried out in response to an unprecedented Iranian attack against Israel on April 13. Israel has vowed to make Iran, its sworn enemy, pay the price for its attack.
Fear of a conflagration
“These were two or three quadcopter drones, the ones that children play with in Iran
,” continued the head of Iranian diplomacy. And to warn:
“As long as there is no new adventure (military offensive, Editor's note) in the name of the Israeli regime against the interests of Iran, we will not respond
,” he added.
The international community rushed to appeal for calm in the wake of Friday's attack, fearing a regional conflagration. Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel on April 13, in retaliation for the deadly attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.
The Israeli military claimed that the vast majority of projectiles fired by Iran were brought down with the help of its allies. Tehran said its attack on Israel was carried out in
“self-defense
,” warning once again:
“If the Israeli regime intends to take another action against our interests, our response will be immediate and maximum.”
, assured Amir-Abdollahian.