Explosions rang out across Tehran on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and Iranian media said air defense batteries had gone into action. Within hours an Israeli security official said Israel had not carried out an attack on Iran.
An Al Jazeera correspondent in the capital saw the air defenses firing, according to Türkiye Today. Iranian authorities gave no explanation at first. No casualties or damage were reported early on, Yeni Safak said, citing the state news agency IRNA, which described hearing “the sound of air defenses” in several areas. The sounds were reported in western and eastern districts.
A test, officials said
Officials later described the activity as “part of a scheduled test.” An Israeli military source told Yedioth Ahronoth flatly: “Israel is not attacking Iran.”
Whether the test explained everything people heard in the city was not settled in the reports. Neither Tehran nor the Israeli and US militaries offered more.
A shaky truce
The episode came during a fragile ceasefire that began on April 8, ending 40 days of fighting. Türkiye Today reported that the truce was already fraying. Iran had attacked three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as recently as April 22, and US forces had clashed with Iranian fast-attack boats near the naval blockade set up on April 13.
Senior Iranian officials blame Washington for the collapse of earlier negotiations and name the blockade as a key obstacle. Diplomacy in Pakistan toward a permanent settlement continues, while the Strait of Hormuz stays largely closed.
Sources
- Israeli official denies strike as Tehran air defenses activated (Türkiye Today)
- Tehran air defenses activated in test, Israel denies involvement (Yeni Safak)
