Amid Israel threat, Iran clarifies blast at nuclear site was a drill

Tehran: An explosion was reported at Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant on Monday, but the Iran administration stated it was an air defence drill. The blast was the second in a month in the country; a bigger one was reported at Natanz town, where Iran's central nuclear research station is located. The administration had said that a missile was fired then also during a military drill, Arab News reported.

But after explaining the explosion, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they would retaliate forcefully to any level of attacks by Israel. It alleged that any threat to its nuclear facilities would not be without the United States knowledge.

The only Middle East power with nuclear capabilities, Israel had carried out many attacks on Iran's establishments for nuclear research. In April, one such Israel attack at Iran's Natanz site had killed many Iranian scientists, Arab News reports. Israel is persisting with its efforts to keep the 2015 nuclear deal frozen and has threatened that it would resort to military action if Iran somehow acquires a nuclear bomb.

The 2015 nuclear deal had withdrawn the sanctions on Iran but restricted its nuclear activities. But in 2018, the Trump administration of US reinstated the sanctions, which became a blow to Iran's economy. But, after that, Tehran gradually increased its uranium stock beyond the allowed levels under the 2015 agreement.