hello. in what seems to be a major ratcheting up of the conflict in the middle east, explosions have been heard in iran. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an attack from israel. state television in iran reported explosions near an army base and an airport in the central city of isfahan, activating local air defence systems. blasts have also been reported in the country's north—west. video online shows iranian defence missiles being fired into the air. commercial flights were initially diverted around iranian airspace, but iranian media say all restrictions have now been lifted. the international atomic energy agency has confirmed there is no damage to iran's nuclearfacilities. in a social media post the agency's director general, rafael mariano grossi, continued to call for extreme restraint from everybody and said

nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. iran's semi—official tasnim news agency, which is close to the islamic revolutionary guard corps, posted a video with a caption saying... "isfahan�*s nuclear site is completely safe". in the video, a man near the isfahan nuclear technology centre is seen showing his watch to the camera to indicate the time and date. we can then see several troops standing around what looks like an air defence battery. reuters newsagency is reporting that an unnamed iranian source has said there is no immediate plan for retaliation. as well as these explosions in iran, they were reported, too, in southern syria — apparently from missiles targeting radar sites. and there were also blasts in iraq in the capital baghdad. and babil province to the south.

israel had promised to respond to iran's drone and missile attack on saturday night. both nbc and cnn have reported unnamed officials saying that israel warned washington, but that washington did not endorse the action. with me is mohamed taha from bbc arabic.2a. from bbc arabic. at the moment every party is practising what is called strategic patience. each party is deescalating what is happening, so, the iranians are saying these attacks are from drones that were flown from inside iran, and there is no missile attack, there is no damages, there is no killings or injured people. and the israelis are silent. and the americans also. theyjust stick to what they said earlier, that it was a missile attack. so, this strategic patience is putting this conflict again in the square of shadow war is again in the square of shadow war is

again and not the strategic deterrence that we saw in the last couple of weeks.— deterrence that we saw in the last couple of weeks. going back to the old playbook _ couple of weeks. going back to the old playbook before _ couple of weeks. going back to the old playbook before there - couple of weeks. going back to the old playbook before there was - couple of weeks. going back to the old playbook before there was this | old playbook before there was this direct from iran onto israel. tell us about isfahan province, more generally, there is a nuclear site in the area but i understand the attacks were not near it, is that right? attacks were not near it, is that riuht? ~ , ., ., right? we understand that the attacks were _ right? we understand that the attacks were targeted - right? we understand that the attacks were targeted mainly. right? we understand that the l attacks were targeted mainly to right? we understand that the i attacks were targeted mainly to a military airport in the region. did not touch any nuclear site. and the other attacks that happened in syria and iraq were on similar posts, they were all radar posts. so, it looks like each party is dealing with the incident as a security incident and not a military incident. we saw several incidents like this happen in tehran before, where drones flown from what the iranians said spies

inside iran, towards facilities, we saw the killing of scientists, we saw the killing of scientists, we saw targeting radar posts, we saw all of this before, and this did not require retaliation from iran to attack israel. so, we see two back attack israel. so, we see two back at square one, the long—standing game between israel and iran with the shadow wars. i5 game between israel and iran with the shadow wars. is it game between israel and iran with the shadow wars.— the shadow wars. is it your assumption _ the shadow wars. is it your assumption that _ the shadow wars. is it your assumption that this - the shadow wars. is it your assumption that this is - the shadow wars. is it your assumption that this is the j the shadow wars. is it your - assumption that this is the end of it, in theory, it could be an opening salvo from israel and then they could do more, but you are tempted to say that this might draw a line under it?— a line under it? what we can see from all parties, _ a line under it? what we can see from all parties, after _ a line under it? what we can see from all parties, after this, - a line under it? what we can see from all parties, after this, that l from all parties, after this, that this might be returning back to the shadow wars and we might not see the tit—for—tat, unprecedented attack

from iran to israel and from israel to iran. and we can see the escalation that happened in gaza this morning, massive shelling to jabalia and other parts of gaza, we saw more than 100 people were killed in gaza in the last 2a hours, and this is returning as back to gaza as the focal point of this conflict, no ceasefire, no prospect of agreement between the two parties, no prospect of seeing the long—awaited two—state solution, and the continued suffering in gaza from the humanitarian situation. mohamed taha, thank— humanitarian situation. mohamed taha, thank you. _ let's speak to dr rowena abdul razak, a lecturer in cold war history and iran, queen mary university of london. she currentlyjoins

us from kuala lumpur. thank you for being with us. how dangerous a moment would you say this is? it dangerous a moment would you say this is? , ., ., ., this is? it is quite an escalation. thank you _ this is? it is quite an escalation. thank you for— this is? it is quite an escalation. thank you for having _ this is? it is quite an escalation. thank you for having me. - this is? it is quite an escalation. thank you for having me. i - this is? it is quite an escalation. i thank you for having me. i believe that 0liver thank you for having me. i believe that oliver is well waiting for this retaliation, and the fact that they have done it does indicate that they are still escalating the situation, however i do feel that what they have done is more muted than we expected. so, could have been worse. you say more muted, do you think thatis you say more muted, do you think that is the end of it awkward there be more options for israel to retaliate further the line? yeah, this remains _ retaliate further the line? yeah, this remains to _ retaliate further the line? yeah, this remains to be _ retaliate further the line? yeah, this remains to be seen, - retaliate further the line? yeah, | this remains to be seen, whether this remains to be seen, whether this is just the start, or whether they wish to continue to target other iranian proxies in the region or other targets in iran itself, remains to be seen. at the moment the ball is in iran's court, all eyes will be on them.-

the ball is in iran's court, all eyes will be on them. they appear to have been playing — eyes will be on them. they appear to have been playing down _ eyes will be on them. they appear to have been playing down the - have been playing down the significance of this this morning, although just significance of this this morning, althoughjust on significance of this this morning, although just on wednesday we were told that they would be retaliation, so where do you think the messaging that we are hearing this morning leaves us on that escalator we path? iran is going to take its time making a decision, as it did earlier. when it sent the missiles into israel two weeks after its consular was bombed in syria. so, iran is a very careful player. it wants to show that it is unfazed by the attack by israel but it will take its time when it responds i do feel that their response it takes will be measured but it may not necessarily do something, we will have to see how they will respond but i do believe that they will, in some way. but i do believe that they will, in some way-— but i do believe that they will, in some wa . ., ., ., ., ~ some way. mohamed taha was talking about the possibility _ some way. mohamed taha was talking about the possibility that _ some way. mohamed taha was talking about the possibility that they - about the possibility that they might be going back to the shadow war, the playbook where people don't

admit to things and the iranians in particular go through their proxies and israel denies any actions that it has carried out, what is your view on that?— it has carried out, what is your view on that? the fact that they have started — view on that? the fact that they have started attacking - view on that? the fact that they have started attacking each - view on that? the fact that they l have started attacking each other view on that? the fact that they - have started attacking each other in their own countries, not as proxies, indicates that playbook may continue, i think they are still going to use their proxies as usual, thatis going to use their proxies as usual, that is not going to change. but now the direct confrontation is on the table. that option is on the table. so, we will have to see whether iran is going to retaliate. the fact that it has done it already makes it possible. it has done it already makes it ossible. , ., , ., it has done it already makes it ossible. , . , ., ~' possible. tell us what you think about the method _ possible. tell us what you think about the method of _ possible. tell us what you think about the method of attack - possible. tell us what you think about the method of attack in l possible. tell us what you think i about the method of attack in this particular case, some suggestion that it was drones from within iran, how do you interpret the method of the attack? the how do you interpret the method of the attack? . ., ., . ~ how do you interpret the method of the attack? . ., ., . ,, ., the attack? the recent attack on iran, do the attack? the recent attack on iran. do you _ the attack? the recent attack on iran, do you mean? _ the attack? the recent attack on iran, do you mean? one - the attack? the recent attack on iran, do you mean? one this - the attack? the recent attack on -

iran, do you mean? one this morning iran, do you mean? one this morning iwas iran, do you mean? one this morning iwasjust— iran, do you mean? one this morning i wasjust asking _ iran, do you mean? one this morning i wasjust asking you _ iran, do you mean? one this morning i wasjust asking you what - iran, do you mean? one this morning i wasjust asking you what you - i was just asking you what you thought of the method of the attack, suggested that somehow drones were used by the israel is, although not confirmed, what do you think of that? i confirmed, what do you think of that? 4' ., , that? i think the method is interesting, _ that? i think the method is interesting, it _ that? i think the method is interesting, it is _ that? i think the method is | interesting, it is calculated, appears to have targeted very specifically. it is not something that the... they have done this before, in syria, for example, they have attacked targets in syria previously so this is not different from what israel has done before, regarding iranian targets in the middle east.— regarding iranian targets in the middle east. ., ,, , l, , l regarding iranian targets in the middle east. ., ,, , l l, middle east. thank you very much for “oinini us.

in the past hour, president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen has called for de—escalation. all sides should refrain from escalation in that region. we have seen the massive attack with drones and missiles, about 300, by iran on israel. it is absolutely necessary that the region stays stable and that the region stays stable and that all sides refrain from further action. ., l l, that all sides refrain from further action. ., , , l, ,, l, l, action. now we can speak to our middle east _ action. now we can speak to our middle east correspondent - action. now we can speak to our i middle east correspondent yolande knell. give us an idea of what the reaction has been in israel to all of this? ~ , l, l, of this? well, first of all, israel's — of this? well, first of all, israel's military - of this? well, first of all, israel's military has - of this? well, first of all, israel's military has not l of this? well, first of all, - israel's military has not confirmed that any offensive took place inside iran. we have got the israeli media reporting widely that this was an israeli attack, and of course, quoting foreign media reports, particularly those from the us, which have sources both israeli and american confirming that this was

indeed an israeli strike. all the way people have been on tenterhooks waiting for some kind of a response, it was made very clear about israeli officials they did not think they could let it pass, what happened, this unprecedented direct attack from iran on israeli territory last weekend. it was really the form of response that was in question and when it would happen. people wondering if this state of uncertainty would continue through the upcoming jewish passover holiday, for example. we have had some ministers coming out, particularly the national security minister, itamar ben—gvir, known as a firebrand, on the far right, he had previously been calling for israel to go crazy in its response, to restore its deterrence in the region, he said that this response appears to be too limited. so, he is the only major official really that we are hearing from at the moment,

others are keeping extremely quiet about all of this. has others are keeping extremely quiet about all of this.— about all of this. has there been any attempt _ about all of this. has there been any attempt to _ about all of this. has there been any attempt to plan _ about all of this. has there been any attempt to plan for- about all of this. has there been any attempt to plan for what - about all of this. has there been l any attempt to plan for what could be a retaliation from iran to this or is the expectation that things have calmed down now and they are not particularly putting in place any special measures? i not particularly putting in place any special measures? i suppose the ho e, any special measures? i suppose the hope. having — any special measures? i suppose the hope. having had _ any special measures? i suppose the hope, having had world _ any special measures? i suppose the hope, having had world leaders - hope, having had world leaders calling for restraint all through the week, pointing out the risk of a wider regional war, at a time when already the war is raging on in gaza, they have been asking for israel to keep things limited once it became clear that israel did plan a retaliation. it doesn't look like this is a limited response, that it is carefully calibrated but we don't know if this is israel's full response. it is telling that the israeli military has not increased the state of alert in the country, has basically said there is no change in the instructions it has issued to the israeli public. fiend

issued to the israeli public. and there was _ issued to the israeli public. and there was one _ issued to the israeli public. and there was one attack also from israel in syria, tell us a bit about the other elements to this that are going on still? 50. the other elements to this that are going on still?— going on still? so, of course we have been _ going on still? so, of course we have been hearing _ going on still? so, of course we have been hearing also - going on still? so, of course we have been hearing also in - going on still? so, of course we have been hearing also in the l going on still? so, of course we i have been hearing also in the past few hours that there was an israeli attack, again nothing confirmed by the israeli military, in syria, targeting air defence systems there. also something similar being reported related to lebanon. and there have been warning sirens alerting people to possible incoming rocket fire from lebanon, with the powerful lebanese armed group hezbollah operating there in the north of israel. this remains still some way away, people are very much on edge. there is a thought that iran's proxies could come into action here, that there could be further retaliation on that basis,

although we have had the reuters news agency for example coming out quoting a senior unnamed iranian sources saying that they don't see what has happened overnight as being an attack on iran, they're trying to really portray that as being an infiltration of iranian airspace. yolande knell, thank you very much indeed. we can now speak to our political correspondent damian grammaticus. talk us through the reaction from this end?— reaction from this end? well, the prime minister's _ reaction from this end? well, the prime minister's office _ reaction from this end? well, the prime minister's office here - reaction from this end? well, the prime minister's office here in - prime minister's office here in downing street say they are still working to establish exactly the sort of facts here. we know from the us, and as you were just hearing from yolande knell injerusalem, that us sources saying that they had some advanced notice, although they were not surprised by what happened here. the uk side, their view has always been and continues to be that israel has a right to self—defence, but they have been urging israel

throughout to act in a way to de—escalate the situation. this morning what we have heard is from a senior minister, cabinet minister here, mel stride, who is the work and pensions secretary, he has been saying this morning on the bbc that the situation in the region, he described it as very problematic and febrile and added that it was very important that both iran and israel acted to de—escalate things. fiend important that both iran and israel acted to de-escalate things. and on the diplomatic— acted to de-escalate things. and on the diplomatic front, _ acted to de-escalate things. and on the diplomatic front, there - acted to de-escalate things. and on the diplomatic front, there had - acted to de-escalate things. and on | the diplomatic front, there had been talks about the us, the eu, the us, announcing further sanctions on iran, is that something that they are going to focus on now to try and contain iran or is it more the focus on trying to de—escalate and get a ceasefire in gaza? on trying to de-escalate and get a ceasefire in gaza?— on trying to de-escalate and get a ceasefire in gaza? well, i think you have multiple _ ceasefire in gaza? well, i think you have multiple prongs _ ceasefire in gaza? well, i think you have multiple prongs there - ceasefire in gaza? well, i think you have multiple prongs there on - ceasefire in gaza? well, i think you have multiple prongs there on the. have multiple prongs there on the issue of sanctions, action was taken there yesterday by the uk and the us, sanctioning both iran's defence

minister and the head of its central military command along with companies, organisations involved in the production of drones. that was designed, the uk government said yesterday, specifically to send a message to iran, to target those involved both in the military and on the industrial side in the production of the weapons used to target israel the other day, also to send a message to israel to say that the uk and the us would be part of a co—ordinated response to iran. that is of course separate from efforts to try to get some sort of negotiation, ceasefire, to do with gaza. but the real overriding concern here i think for the us and the uk and other allies, g7 countries, is the idea that they saw that original attack from iran into

israel as highly problematic, destabilising. the first time we had seen a direct attack like that. now we see israel possibly back into iran. that itself is a dynamic they are concerned about. as is the fact that there are many other elements to this, many other pieces of the jigsaw in the middle east, the groups funded by iran, which it provides with weapons, in lebanon, in yemen, and all of that adds to a very complicated picture which makes an unstable dynamic, so there may be an unstable dynamic, so there may be a signalfrom one side an unstable dynamic, so there may be a signal from one side to the other that they will take a response, but does that contribute to a d deescalation or an escalation? everyone here wants to see tensions reduced and no room for any miscalculation in reading any of those signals.— miscalculation in reading any of those siinals. ., ., . , those signals. damian grammaticus, thank ou those signals. damian grammaticus, thank you will— those signals. damian grammaticus, thank you will stop _ those signals. damian grammaticus, thank you will stop around _ those signals. damian grammaticus, thank you will stop around the - those signals. damian grammaticus, thank you will stop around the world | thank you will stop around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

g7 foreign ministers are meeting in italy, jessica parker, what has been the reaction this morning to the events in iran? i the reaction this morning to the events in iran?— the reaction this morning to the events in iran? i mean, they had been discussing _ events in iran? i mean, they had been discussing the _ events in iran? i mean, they had been discussing the middle - events in iran? i mean, they had been discussing the middle east| been discussing the middle east yesterday, foreign ministers here in capri, from g7 nations they moved onto other issues, but events overnight have brought all of that back to the table. and the people we have heard from so far this morning on social media posts, first of all, italy's foreign minister who has said that they will be discussing it at the g7 this morning, and that will be happening, and as well,

canada's foreign minister saying that they are monitoring developments. two of the foreign ministers who are here in capri, the uk's lord cameron and annalena baerbock of germany, came to capri direct from israel, where they had been having meetings with israeli leaders, very much at we had been hearing, trying to send that message of deescalation, urging israel to show restraint. lord cameron when he spoke from israel earlier in the wiki did say he hoped israel would do as little as possible in terms of escalation, but also there did seem to be an acknowledgement that there was an expectation that israel would take some form of action. people clearly at that point he didn't know when, didn't know what, didn't know the extent of it, and this morning the extent of it, and this morning the picture is still emerging. but it will be we presume front and centre of the discussion of these g7 foreign ministers as they convene foreign ministers as they convene for theirfinal foreign ministers as they convene for their final day foreign ministers as they convene for theirfinal day here foreign ministers as they convene for their final day here in foreign ministers as they convene

for theirfinal day here in capri. do you think we will hear any more in terms of other diplomatic options, or do you think those were explored yesterday and we will not see any further additions to that? i think we will hear more two—day. we are expected some closing remarks from a few of the ministers later on, as things are due to wrap up around lunchtime although these things are sometimes overrun, and i think as of last night for a lot of the conversations had turned towards ukraine, ukraine's foreign minister has been here urging allies to provide more weapons aid, particularly air defences and missiles, so they had started talking about that, but i imagine when we hear from talking about that, but i imagine when we hearfrom ministers later, the chair of proceedings, the italian foreign minister, as well as antony blinken, the us secretary of state, this is going to be what they are asked to comment on how they read the situation, given those calls for escalation. the hope will be that the initial indications that

this potentially looks like a limited action by israel, although as i say, reports are still very much emerging, is the hope will be that this will not lead to some sort of escalation in the region. but it has been the issue that really has been hanging over this g7 foreign ministers meeting, as people waited and watched to see what action might be taken, and now this morning they are dijak two and we think we will get further reactions later on. fiend get further reactions later on. and we understand _ get further reactions later on. and we understand that we will be hearing from anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, at around 11.15, and we will bring you that when it happens. let's speak to hamish de bretton—gordon, a chemical weapons expert and former commander of british and nato nuclear forces. thank you for being with us. i wanted to ask you first of all, they have targeted isfahan but they have not hit a nuclear facility, what to go think the significance of the location of the attack is? well, iood location of the attack is? well, good morning- _ location of the attack is? well, good morning. i— location of the attack is? well, good morning. i think- location of the attack is? well, good morning. i think very - good morning. i think very significant. isfahan is the second

city of iran, a lot of military bases around it, and as you say they appear to have hit a military base, whether it is islamic revolutionary guard corps, who knows, i would not be at all surprised. and fairly near to where we believe iran is trying to where we believe iran is trying to build nuclear weapons. so i expect a not to that. i think this attack is very much a demonstration of capability and perhaps intent. iran fires 300 plus missiles and grounds at israel, they virtually all get knocked down, israel fires one, perhaps two missiles, and it appears to have got through and damaged. evil might be surprised to know that conventionally, israel, militarily, vastly over matches iran, and this is a demonstration of that, and i think your correspondent frank gardner said earlier on today, iran would far more like to fight in the shadows, using its terror groups and proxies, ratherthan the shadows, using its terror groups and proxies, rather than go toe to toe with israel conventionally,

where it knows it would get a real hammering. fiend where it knows it would get a real hammering-— where it knows it would get a real hammering. where it knows it would get a real hammerini. �* ., ., ., i. hammering. and what reaction do you think we can — hammering. and what reaction do you think we can expect _ hammering. and what reaction do you think we can expect from _ hammering. and what reaction do you think we can expect from iran? - think we can expect from iran? clearly this morning, the mood music appears to be downplaying the scale of this, but earlier in the week they had said they would react, what is your expectation for what we can look for from iran? is your expectation for what we can look forfrom iran? i is your expectation for what we can look for from iran?— look for from iran? i think the initial reaction _ look for from iran? i think the initial reaction is, _ look for from iran? i think the initial reaction is, as - look for from iran? i think the initial reaction is, as you - look for from iran? i think the initial reaction is, as you say, | initial reaction is, as you say, because they don't want to make the fact that a single, or a couple of israeli missiles, have got through their very antiquated air defence systems and hit targets. and israel has the capacity, with its stealth fighters and others, to do an awful lot of damage here. i think iran feels that its pride is slightly restored by launching the attacks on israel on sunday, and really doesn't want to get any further there because it knows that israel is absolutely determined and seems to have the backing of the us and other

countries and iran can't really rely on much help, perhaps a little bit from russia, very keen to keep the focus on the middle east, and not on ukraine, butapart focus on the middle east, and not on ukraine, but apart from that they are bit isolated. but of course the last thing they want to do is to get some of their key facilities hit, particularly the nuclear ones. hamish de bretton—gordon, thank you very much indeed forjoining us. stay with us, plenty more in a moment. 0n the way for most parts of the uk this weekend but it looks like there will be quite a bit of cloud around. today there will be a scattering of showers with some sunshine in between, and it is still quite breezy out there. showers will continue to run in across parts of central and eastern england and also in the south, we are clearing away our morning weather front. for

western areas the winds start to ease a little later, the winds are still brisk, and given that at this time of year the sea is at its coolest, it will feel quite bracing on the north sea coast. 11l—15 outside of the wind should feel pleasant, and we should get more sunshine this afternoon in northern ireland, west of scotland, western parts of england and wales. this evening and overnight the chilly breeze continues to feed showers into england. patchy cloud and rain coming into the north on the next weather front but for most of us, because the showers clear, and the cloud, it will be colder than last night, with a fairly widespread ground frost. gardeners, beware. this high pressure might well also lead to some mist and fog in the west first thing but it hangs around all weekend, so the dry weather is with us, but we will see quite a lot of cloud as the weak weather front, no more than the occasional light shower, keeping the easterly breeze coming into eastern areas, so we may well have an east—west split. the

rain, patchy rain, in the north, and thenjust generally a rain, patchy rain, in the north, and then just generally a build—up of cloud on saturday. it looks as if west will be best for sunshine and perhaps also in eastern areas in between the showers later on but still quite chilly here, given the wind direction. just a little below parfor wind direction. just a little below par for the time of year. and it looks like another saturday night, with a touch of frost. so that means that if you are out early heading off to the london marathon, it will be a cool start for the runners and spectators, and we are expecting temperatures to get into the low double figures, 12—13 at best, during the day, with the king wind blowing and quite a lot of cloud. it looks as if we will see some good sunshine further to the west and perhaps for northern ireland, up to 17-18. but at the perhaps for northern ireland, up to 17—18. but at the moment it is looking quite chilly again.

this is bbc news, the headlines. explosions are heard in the iranian city of isfahan. us officials say it's israel's response to this week's attack. an iranian official says there is no plan for immediate retaliation and state tv says there is no damage reported. g7 foreign ministers are in italy with the crisis expected to dominate their agenda, while the european commission president urges restraint from all parties.

let's recap what's been happening in iran. in what is feared to be a ratcheting up of the conflict in the middle east, explosions have been heard in iran. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an attack from israel. state television in iran has reported explosions near an army base and an airport in the central city of isfahan, activating local air defence systems. blasts have also been reported in the country's north—west. video online shows iranian defence missiles being fired into the air. commercial flights were diverted around iranian airspace, but iranian media say all restrictions have now been lifted. the international atomic energy agency has confirmed there is no damage

to iran's nuclear facilities.