Air defense test sparks loud blast near Iran nuclear site

An overview of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, south of the capital Tehran. (File/AFP)

• Iranian news agencies earlier reported a large explosion in the sky above Natanz
• Fars news agency quoted its reporter as saying short blast was heard accompanied by an intense light in sky

TEHRAN: An air defense test triggered a loud explosion near Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility Saturday as nuclear talks with major powers stumble.
The explosion was heard in the skies over the Iranian city of Badroud, just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the nuclear plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.
“Badroud residents heard the noise and saw a light which showed an object had just blown up in the skies over the city,” a witness told IRNA.
But the air defense commander for the Natanz region told state television there was no cause for concern.
“An hour ago, one of our missile systems in the region was tested to assess the state of readiness on the ground, and there is nothing to fear,” the commander said.