US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeated calls for de-escalation in the Middle East, after an apparent Israeli strike on Iran
Speaking from a G7 meeting in Italy, Blinken says Washington was not involved in any offensive operation
Two US officials told the BBC's US partner CBS News that an Israeli missile struck Iran overnight. The Israeli government has not officially commented
Iranian state media cite unconfirmed reports of explosions in the central province of Isfahan, but downplayed reports of an attack
Isfahan is home to a large airbase, a major missile production complex and several nuclear facilities. The global nuclear watchdog says no nuclear sites were damaged
Iran has been on high alert in the wake of Israel pledging to respond to Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel on Saturday night
Tehran has maintained that was retaliation for a presumed Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria on 1 April, in which 13 people were killed
Warning sirens which sounded over northern Israel early on Friday morning were a false alarm, the country's military has said, according to Reuters.
The sirens had sounded shortly after reports started to emerge of a possible Israeli strike on Iran.
Mariko Oi
Business reporter
Image source, ReutersIran is the seventh largest oil producer in the world
Global oil and gold prices have jumped and shares slumped after US officials said an Israeli missile had struck Iran.
In Asia trade on Friday morning, Brent crude rose by more than 3% to around $90 a barrel, while gold was trading close to a new record high above $2,400 an ounce.
Benchmark stock indexes in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea also fell after the reports.
Investors have been closely monitoring Israel’s reaction to Iran's drone and missile attack last weekend.
Iran's state broadcaster IRIB says the Supreme National Security Council's press office has "denied foreign media reports that an emergency meeting of the council has convened".
Iranian state TV has reported that three drones were observed over the sky in Isfahan at about 00:30 GMT and that they were destroyed after the country's air defence system was activated, according to Reuters.
Earlier, the semi-official Fars news agency reported that “explosions” had been heard near Isfahan’s international airport.
Isfahan province is home to a large air base, a major missile production complex and several nuclear sites.
As we've reported, there's significant flight diversion happening over the Iranian airspace.
Here's a screengrab of the flight traffic monitoring site FlightRadar24 from just a few minutes ago - it shows several planes changing route around central Iran.
Image source, FLIGHT RADAR 24BBC Persian reports that it has been sent several videos filmed by residents of Iran's central Isfahan province overnight, where Iranian state media are reporting that explosions have been heard.
In one video posted on BBC Persian's Instagram account, the sound of what appear to be anti-aircraft guns can be heard.
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Reuters is reporting that sirens have sounded in northern Israel, citing the Israeli military.
There are no further details currently and the Israeli military says it is not commenting "at this time".
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB is citing “reliable sources” as saying that the nuclear facilities in Isfahan are “completely safe”
Explosions were reported in Isfahan, about four hours drive or 350km (217 miles) south of Iran's capital, Tehran.
As we've reported, Isfahan is home to a major military air base and several Iranian nuclear sites are in the province- including the city of Natanz, a centerpiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB is citing “reliable sources” as saying that the “strong sounds heard in several regions of the country were a result of air defence being activated to counter several unidentified mini-drones”
State news agency IRNA is reporting that the country's air defence systems have been activated in several provinces.
IRNA said the country had fired its "air defense batteries".
In the hours preceding today’s reports, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that his country's response to any retaliation by Israel would be “immediate and at a maximum level".
He made the comments during an interview on CNN on Thursday.
Earlier this week, he said his country’s attack on Israel on Saturday - which involved more than 300 drones and missiles - amounted to "exercising the right of legitimate defence".
Tehran has maintained that the action it took was retaliation for a presumed Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria on 1 April, in which 13 people were killed.
More now on reports of flights being suspended.
Commercial flights have been paused over Iran’s major cities, including Isfahan, Shirax and Tehran, the country’s state media is reporting, according to Reuters news agency.
Isfahan is the central city where explosions were reported by Iranian media.
It's been reported too that Middle East-based carriers Emirates and Fly Dubai had started diverting their flights over western Iran early on Friday morning, without explanation.
An explosion was heard north-west of the Iranian city of Isfahan early Friday morning, according to the country’s semi-official Fars news agency.
Fars said that it occurred near the city’s international airport. But it offered no explanation on the possible cause.
Isfahan province is home to a large air base, a major missile production complex and several nuclear sites.
The incident comes as tensions remain high across the Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel on Saturday.
An Israeli missile has hit Iran, two US officials have told the BBC's US partner CBS News.
Iranian state media is reporting that flights have been suspended over several cities, according to Associated Press.
Iran has been on high alert after Israel said it would respond to an Iranian attack against it on Saturday night
Stay with us for updates on this developing story.