Near the City Of Isfahan which is at the centre of Irans Nuclear programme. It appears to be the latest tit for tat exchange between the two arch enemies. For days, israel has been threatening to retaliate after it was targeted last weekend by 300 iranian missiles and drones. Our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, reports. Lighting up the night sky over isfahan. This appears to have been israels answer to irans unprecedented Missile Attack last week. Triggering iranian defences. Not long afterwards, this Amateur Video was put out from a nearby nuclear site. A man showing his watch as he indicates its safe and secure. Irans state tv quoted military officials downplaying the strike, saying there were only aerial interceptions. Triggered by the presence of three small drones that were present in that area. Other than that, nothing has happened. But israel took irans strike early on sunday very seriously. More than 300 drones and missiles were launched. 99 were downed. Iran said it was hitting israel in response to a deadly air strike on its consulate in syria. Suddenly, the long shadow war between two old enemies was out in the open. This morning, in tel aviv, israelis said their country had to react to iran to deter further assaults. Attacking iran is a necessary action in our environment, which is much harsher than the jungle in africa. Hope people in iran will understand, were not seeking for war, but were seeking for peace, and we want to be here safe so, understand that. However, not all were satisfied. 0n social media, the far right National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir gave his view with one word lame. But World Leaders worried about triggering a wider regional war have been urging israel to show restraint. We are committed to israels security. Were also committed to de escalating, to trying to bring this tension to a close. Back in isfahan, life for iranians appears to be going on as normal. What is not yet clear is whether what has happened here will end the latest dangerous round of violence in the middle east. Yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. Lets bring you some Breaking News from paris. Authorities in france have detained a man after surrounding the iranian consulate in the city. Lets show you the live pictures from near the consulate, and that was where a man was reported to be threatening to blow himself up. You can see the Police Presence outside there now. Special Police Forces are on the scene, as well as the worlds media gathering, and police have asked the public to avoid the area. A Police Source says that a man was seen entering the consulate with what appeared to be a grenade as well as an explosive belt. There you can see the entrance there, police van outside, and it has been cordoned off as well. We will have more on that story and developments from france, Butjust A Reminder that french authorities have detained a man after surrounding the iranian consulate in the french capital. The eyes of the world are on the middle east region, and many are questioning what might happen next. To help us untangle this, lets speak to dr Aniseh Bassiri tabrizi from the control risks analysis group. Welcome to bbc news. I guess one of the main questions a lot of people watching this want to know is what might come next. I am not expecting you to know the answer to that, but we have heard a little bit from iran, a sense that there might not be an immediate retaliation. Correct. I think first of all, thank you for having me, i think what we have seen is that iran has seemingly taken stock of De Escalation from israel. If reports are confirmed, israel. If reports are confirmed, israel seems to have chosen to send a message regarding provoking further escalation and responses from iran. This was obviously one of the scenarios that was possible, and we have been developing several scenarios that might happen following this attack. I think what is likely is that. Provided limited damage towards the iranian facilities and is not seen as provocatively by iran, we might look into a return to Tit For Tat Confrontation between iran and israel in a way that took place between October The 7th and israels attack on the iranian consulate which has triggered more escalation. Tensions are still high between the two countries but i think we are seeing a little bit of a loading of the temperature. find seeing a little bit of a loading of the temperature. Seeing a little bit of a loading of the temperature. Seeing a little bit of a loading of the temerature. �. , ~. ,. , the temperature. And do we know any more about what the temperature. And do we know any more about what people the temperature. And do we know any more about what people in the temperature. And do we know any more about what people in iran the temperature. And do we know any more about what people in iran are i more about what people in iran are making of this recent escalation . We just sort the state media there again trying to downplay what happened overnight. I wondered if you have been able to monitor whatever media is saying in the country and what other people on the streets are saying is well . 0bviously streets are saying is well . Obviously there is concern about a potential war, and people have been concerned about that, especially after the 13th Of April attack by iran against israel. That was the first in terms of escalation that we have never seen. After that Attack Tensions were really high also inside iran and i think from an iranian perspective both at the official level and state media level, trying to minimise the cost and say that they do issues in response to the April The 1st attack. I think from the population point of view, obviously there is already a lot of concern with regard to the state of the economy and the state of the repression and with the state of the repression and with the state of the ongoing concerns that the iranian people have. The potential escalation and potential even for a war in a israel does not obviously represent good news for the Iranian Population. I think there was a sigh of relief from the Iranian Population today. Bier . Iranian population today. Very briefl , i Iranian Population today. Very briefly, i wanted Iranian Population today. Very briefly, i wanted to Iranian Population today. Very briefly, i wanted to ask Iranian Population today. Very briefly, i wanted to ask you what some of the other countries in the region make of the events of the night. Countries likejordan who Actuallyjoined Two other forces like the uk and the us to help defend israel at the weekend. We have defend israel at the weekend. Have still not had comments from all of the countries in the region but i think from everyones perspective, all of the countries in the region do not want an escalation of tensions between iran and israel. That has been clear. Any attack and any escalations between the two sides. I think it is because. I think from their perspective seeing Tension Return to tit for tat and a lower level of escalation between the two will prevent an outbreak of the two will prevent an outbreak of the confrontation into the open, thatis the confrontation into the open, that is something that they are looking for. That is something that they are looking for that is something that they are lookin for. ~ ,. ,. That is something that they are lookin for. ~ ,. , looking for. Thank you very much for shafinu looking for. Thank you very much for sharing your looking for. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts looking for. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and looking for. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and coming i looking for. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and coming to j sharing your thoughts and coming to a flight from abu dhabi. Earlier i spoke to our Diplomatic CorrespondentJames Landale injerusalem, and our North America correspondent nomia iqbal. I started off by asking nomia to tell us a little more about that statement from antony blinken, earlier on today. He kept using the word or two, and thatis he kept using the word or two, and that is actually what sums up the Biden Administrations approach to this. Eversince Biden Administrations approach to this. Ever since the attack on israel by iran last Weekend America has been very keen to de escalate. Mr biden and other World Leaders urging israel not to retaliate in a way that would inflame a wider middle eastern war. Yesterday the us did impose this new round of sanctions on iran, one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, this time aiming at its missile and drone programme, aiming at executives of that programme, people who america said delivered those missiles to irans proxies throughout the middle east. I think it was americas way of saying to iran, look, there are ways that we can respond, sorry, to israel, there are ways that we can respond to iran that does not involve a Military Response are certainly a widescale Military Response which we understand some israeli leaders had wanted to begin with. Having said that, america is always keen to say we cannot tell israel what to do. But given the sort of relatively small response by israel in The Grand Scheme of things and the even smaller response by iran, i imagine that the Biden Administration will breathe a little bit more easily. They will know that tensions will not disappear between both countries anytime soon but it has lowered that immediate risk of an escalation. Stay with us, nobby. Lets bring james in from jerusalem. James, we just reported that that tweet on x from it are mad men give ear, the far right National Security minister, one word, it was the hebrew word for scarecrow, intimating that perhaps the attack was feeble. What has been the reaction in the Israeli Cabinet and amongst israeli officials to the events overnight . Amongst israeli officials to the events overnight . Well, the first oint to events overnight . Well, the first point to make events overnight . Well, the first point to make is events overnight . Well, the first point to make is overwhelmingly j point to make is overwhelmingly absolute point to make is overwhelmingly absolute silence. There has been no response absolute silence. There has been no response from the israelis at all. The Prime Response from the israelis at all. The Prime Minister has said nothing, the cabinet the Prime Minister has said nothing, the cabinet has said nothing. All we have of the cabinet has said nothing. All we have of substance so far on the record have of substance so far on the record and have of substance so far on the record and at one word tweet by the Security Record and at one word tweet by the Security Minister, which most people are translating as meaning lamer. And the are translating as meaning lamer. And the response from that prompted from israels Opposition Leader who furiously from israels Opposition Leader who furiously accused the Security Minisier furiously accused the Security Minister of causing huge, heavy Damage Minister of causing huge, heavy damage to israels reputation, opening damage to israels reputation, opening up to ridicule, he said in a security opening up to ridicule, he said in a Security Minister had evidence of much Security Minister had evidence of much damage to israel and that is because much damage to israel and that is because of much damage to israel and that is because of this, the assumption is that this because of this, the assumption is that this attack, if it is indeed by israel. That this attack, if it is indeed by israel. Was that this attack, if it is indeed by israel, was designed to send a message israel, was designed to send a message. It was limited but it was also designed to say, look, israel can target also designed to say, look, israel can target iran deep within its territory can target iran deep within its territory and it can strike targets pretty territory and it can strike targets pretty close to where its Nuclear Facilities pretty close to where its Nuclear Facilities are. In other words, the Military Facilities are. In other words, the Military Assault that took place in the early Military Assault that took place in the early hours of this morning had a political the early hours of this morning had a political message to it. It was sending a political message to it. It was sending signals, right . And if you accept sending signals, right . And if you accept that analysis, having your security accept that analysis, having your Security Minister say this attack was a Security Minister say this attack was a bit Security Minister say this attack was a bit lame and undermines the strategy. Was a bit lame and undermines the strategy, and that is the implication of the criticism here. Effectively accusing the Security Minister effectively accusing the Security Minister of undermining what israel is trying minister of undermining what israel is trying to minister of undermining what israel is trying to achieve overnight, which is trying to achieve overnight, which seem to be a modest and limited which seem to be a modest and limited strike to respond to last weeks limited strike to respond to last weeks massive strike by iran in a way that weeks massive strike by iran in a way that did not necessarily escalate but also sent a warning to Iran Escalate but also sent a warning to iran that escalate but also sent a warning to iran that israel could do more if it wanted iran that israel could do more if it wanted. R iran that israel could do more if it wanted. ,. , iran that israel could do more if it wanted. , iran that israel could do more if it wanted. , i. , wanted. Let me ask you both one ruestion, wanted. Let me ask you both one question. The wanted. Let me ask you both one question, the same wanted. Let me ask you both one question, the same question, wanted. Let me ask you both one. Question, the same question, before you both go. I will start with you again now, james. Where do you think this leaves the dynamic between israel and the us . This leaves the dynamic between israel and the us . Look, i think the ke thin israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now for israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now for this israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now for this is israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now for this is that israel and the us . Look, i think the key thing now for this is that i key thing now for this is that i think key thing now for this is that i think Where Do We Go From Here . And the next think Where Do We Go From Here . And the next phase of this story is going the next phase of this story is going to the next phase of this story is going to move back to gaza. There have going to move back to gaza. There have been going to move back to gaza. There have been very intense talks between The Americans and the israelis over what happens next, over israels desired what happens next, over israels desired Attack On Rafah in the south of gaza, desired Attack On Rafah in the south of gaza, The Americans very concerned about the impact on the many concerned about the impact on the many many concerned about the impact on the many many hundreds of thousands of people many many hundreds of thousands of people crammed into that part of southern people crammed into that part of southern gaza. At the moment there are reports southern gaza. At the moment there are reports of no agreement between both sides are reports of no agreement between both sides of this, the question is if this both sides of this, the question is if this situation with iran dials down if this situation with iran dials down a if this situation with iran dials down a date, if the temperature reduces, down a date, if the temperature reduces, does that free up israel for an reduces, does that free up israel for an oppor