Hours after unconfirmed reports claimed that Israeli military launched missiles against Iran, Tehran has responded, saying no missile attack was carried out against the country. An Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that the explosions heard in Isfahan were a result of the activation of Iran's air defence systems.
Nuclear sites in Isfahan remain unharmed, Iran's state TV said.
Following the missile attack rumours, warning sirens were sounded in northern Israel on Friday. However, the Israeli military later clarified that the sirens were a false alarm.
ABC News, citing US officials, earlier calimed that Israeli military launched airstrikes against Iran on Friday
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that commercial flights were diverted early Friday morning over western Iran without explanation amid reports of explosions heard over the city of Qahjavaristan, near Isfahan airport. Isfahan is home to Iran's 8th Shekhari Base of the Army Air Force and sites associated with its nuclear programme.
The semi-official Fars news agency, citing sources, said the air defence systems in Isfahan were activated against "an object suspected to be a drone" and acknowledged three loud explosions near Isfahan airport.
UAE carriers Emirates and FlyDubai diverted around western Iran about 4.30 am local time without explanation. Local warnings to aviators indicated that the airspace may have been closed. Later, Iran announced that it has grounded commercial flights in Tehran and the country's western and central regions.
-- with agency inputs
