Iran Holds Unannounced Air Defense Drill over Natanz

A view of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility 250 km (155 miles) south of the Iranian capital Tehran, in this Maxar Technologies satellite image taken last week and obtained by Reuters on April 12, 2021. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
A view of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility 250 km (155 miles) south of the Iranian capital Tehran, in this Maxar Technologies satellite image taken last week and obtained by Reuters on April 12, 2021. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
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Iran Holds Unannounced Air Defense Drill over Natanz

A view of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility 250 km (155 miles) south of the Iranian capital Tehran, in this Maxar Technologies satellite image taken last week and obtained by Reuters on April 12, 2021. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
A view of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility 250 km (155 miles) south of the Iranian capital Tehran, in this Maxar Technologies satellite image taken last week and obtained by Reuters on April 12, 2021. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

Iranian air defenses fired a missile as part of an exercise on Saturday over the central town of Natanz, which houses nuclear installations, state TV reported, after local residents reported hearing a large blast.

The TV said air defense units fired the missile to test a rapid reaction force over Natanz.

"Such exercises are carried out in a completely secure environment ... and there is no cause for concern," Army spokesman Shahin Taqikhani told the TV.

Iranian news agencies earlier reported a large explosion in the sky above Natanz, but said there was no official explanation of the incident.

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted its reporter in nearby Badroud as saying a short blast was heard which was accompanied by an intense light in the sky.



Israel Looks to Washington to Punish ICC

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky attend a press conference at Foreign Ministry headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/David W Cerny
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky attend a press conference at Foreign Ministry headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/David W Cerny
TT

Israel Looks to Washington to Punish ICC

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky attend a press conference at Foreign Ministry headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/David W Cerny
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky attend a press conference at Foreign Ministry headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/David W Cerny

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday he believed the United States would punish the International Criminal Court for having issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister.
Israel has said it will appeal the ICC decision to move against Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.
But during a visit to the Czech Republic, Saar said other countries were also dismayed by the decision, including the United States.
"I tend to believe that in Washington, legislation is going to take place very shortly against the ICC and whoever cooperates with it," Saar told a joint press conference with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.
Saar added that Israel would finish the 14-month-old war in Gaza when it "achieves its objectives" of returning hostages being held by Hamas and ensuring the group no longer controls the Palestinian enclave.