Town of Isfahan has been focused in an Israeli strike in retaliation for the barrage of missiles and drones that Iran unleashed on the weekend.

The assault, particulars of that are nonetheless rising, coincided with the birthday of Iran’s supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Thus far, there haven’t been any reviews of harm or casualties.

The place is Isfahan and the way vital is it? Sky Information takes a have a look at Iran’s third-largest metropolis.

Observe newest: Tehran has ‘no plan for rapid retaliation’

It was as soon as the capital of Persia

Situated within the centre of modern-day Iran on the nexus of the most important north-south and east-west routes, Isfahan emerged because the capital of Persia in 1598.

Right now it retains a lot of its historical past and the town is legendary for its Islamic structure reminiscent of tiled mosques and minarets.

It is dwelling to round 2.2 million individuals.

The large Naqsh-e Jahan Sq. within the metropolis was designated a World Heritage Website by UNESCO.

It additionally has an airbase that has lengthy been dwelling to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, purchased earlier than the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

What connection does Isfahan have with Iran’s nuclear programme?

Iran’s nuclear analysis has lengthy been a bone of competition with the West – fearful that Tehran might be looking for to develop a nuclear weapon.

Israel has vowed by no means to let Iran acquire nuclear weapons. Iran has all the time denied having any intention to construct a nuclear weapon.

There are nuclear amenities at a spread of places throughout the nation, together with in and round Isfahan.

The power at Isfahan operates three small Chinese language-supplied analysis reactors, in addition to dealing with gasoline manufacturing and different actions for Iran’s civilian nuclear programme.

There’s additionally the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, positioned within the wider province however exterior the town itself.

What occurred to the town within the Israeli strike?

Particulars are nonetheless rising concerning the Israeli strike on Iran, together with any impression on Isfahan.

Air defences have been fired in a number of Iranian provinces, together with from a significant army airbase and nuclear amenities close to Isfahan, the place state media mentioned three drones had been shot down.

Iranian state media tv mentioned the nuclear amenities close to the town have been “totally secure”.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the Worldwide Atomic Power Company, additionally mentioned there was no harm however mentioned it was monitoring the state of affairs “very intently” and referred to as for “excessive restraint”.

Learn extra:
Iran’s response to date to Israeli strike is telling
Israel’s assault on Iran displays badly on Biden
Israel seems to have fastidiously chosen response

Sky Information’s army analyst Michael Clarke mentioned Isfahan “would make sense” as a goal because it hosts one of many least delicate nuclear websites.

“It is a analysis web site, about 3,000 or so scientists work there and there is not any proof this was focused on the nuclear web site,” he added.

“However the truth that Isfahan is likely one of the cities that does numerous nuclear work can be symbolically fairly essential, I believe, if the Israelis are indicating that they are not frightened to go after these websites.”