Amid tensions with Israel, Iran's foreign minister downplays drone attack in Isfahan

Iran's foreign minister downplays attack, denies link to Israel, as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Iran's foreign minister on April 19 said Tehran was investigating an overnight attack on Iran, adding that so far a link to Israel had not been proven as he downplayed the strike.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told NBC News the drones took off from inside Iran and flew for a few hundred meters before being downed.

Also read: Iran’s president makes no mention of explosions

"They're ... more like toys that our children play with, not drones," Mr. Amirabdollahian said. "It has not been proved to us that there is a connection between these and Israel," he said, adding that Iran was investigating the matter but that media reports were not accurate, according to Tehran's information.

Iranian media and officials described a small number of explosions, which they said resulted from air defences hitting three drones over Isfahan in central Iran in the early hours of April 19. They referred to the incident as an attack by "infiltrators", rather than by Israel, obviating the need for retaliation.

Mr. Amirabdollahian warned that if Israel retaliated and acted against the interests of Iran, Tehran's next response would be immediate and at the maximum level. "But if not, then we are done. We are concluded," he said.

The attack appeared to target an Iranian Air Force base near the city of Isfahan, deep inside the country, but without striking any strategic sites or causing major damage.