Jordan reaffirms stand against airspace violations amid Israel-Iran tensions

By Laith Al Junaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) - Jordan reaffirmed Friday that it will not allow Israel to violate its airspace in targeting Iran, following reports linking Tel Aviv to an attack on the Iranian city of Isfahan.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi "emphasized the necessity of reducing the dangerous escalation in the region, reiterating that Jordan is not a battlefield between Iran and Israel,'' in a telephone call with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Safadi confirmed to Abdollahian that Jordan "will not allow Israel or Iran to violate its airspace to target each other,'' it said.

He also emphasized that "the current escalation only serves to divert attention away from Israeli aggression on Gaza, which should be the priority for all efforts.''

The Iranian minister said his country "respects Jordan and is keen on its security and the security of the region," according to the statement.

Jordan said Sunday that it is prepared to confront threats after detecting and intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles that violated the kingdom's airspace.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel late Saturday in response to an April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Syria.

Iranian state media said Friday that air defenses were activated against suspicious objects in several cities, including the central province of Isfahan.

The semi-official Mehr News Agency said three drones were destroyed in the skies above Isfahan.

Iran's state television confirmed "massive explosions" in Isfahan but said no nuclear facilities were affected or targeted in the central city.

US media reports, citing officials, said Israel carried a strike inside Iran.

There was no official Israeli comment on reports of attacks inside Iran.

Meanwhile, a member of the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, suggested Friday that Israel carried out a strike inside Iran.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul