Israel attacks Iran, Isfahan military base hit. Safe nuclear sites. Oil prices are soaring

Israel launched a military attack on Iran at first light, around 4:30 am, on Ayatollah Khamenei’s 85th birthday. At least three different explosions occurred near the military base in Isfahan, in the south of the country. Tehran, which immediately issued an air alert and maximum security measures throughout its territory and national skies, announced that Iranian air defenses shot down three drones launched by Israel, reporting that “there were no casualties or particular damage » and assured that all nuclear sites are safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed this.

The United States informed by Israel

Tel Aviv underlined that the offensive represents a “limited” counterattack to the aggression suffered by Iran in recent days and directed against “a threat to the existence of our country”. An Israeli official told the Washington Post that the goal was to signal to Iran that Israel has the capability to strike inside the country. Israel has not so far implemented any particular security measures internally: the airspace has not been closed nor has schools and public offices been ordered to close. While US defense sources said that the United States “were informed by Israel” of the decision to attack at dawn but “in no way endorsed it”. Following the attack, the US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security advisory to employees and their family members, restricting their travel to the Tel Aviv, Beersheba and Jerusalem areas.

Tajani: this will be discussed with the Foreign Ministers at the G7 in Capri

The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, connected from Capri where he is presiding over the last day of the G7 Foreign Affairs with Rainews, declared that “we are following the situation minute by minute”. Tajani spoke with the Italian ambassador to Iran. Naturally, he added, she will discuss it with the Foreign Ministers at the G7 session in Capri. However, at the moment there are “no critical issues for Italians living in Iran”.

Oil prices are flying again

Tensions in the Middle East return to the center of attention and oil prices skyrocket: that of WTI rises by 2.41% to 84.72 dollars per barrel and that of Brent by 2.14% to 88.97 dollars per barrel. Israel’s retaliation marks an escalation in the Middle East conflict and comes just a day after Iranian officials warned Israel over any attacks on Tehran’s nuclear facilities that it may reassess nuclear weapons development if Israel attacks the country’s nuclear facilities , which so far have only been used for peaceful power generation purposes. The fuse was lit by Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel last week, in retaliation for an alleged Israeli attack on the embassy in Damascus. Despite today’s gains, April 19, oil prices are still destined to end the week lower.

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