IRAN has blamed Israel for a drone attack that targeted a military workshop in its central city of Isfahan last weekend, warning that it “reserves its legitimate and inherent right” to retaliate.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations, in a letter it published on its website on Thursday, attributed the attack, which happened late on Saturday, to Israel.

“Early investigations suggest that the Israeli regime was responsible for this attempted act of aggression,” the letter signed by Iranian ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said.

Although Israeli officials have declined to comment on the issue, their military has carried out a series of attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear programme as part of a lengthy shadow war between the Middle East rivals.

Ambassador Iravani’s letter to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and the security council warned that Tehran could respond to the attack.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right ... to defend its national security and respond resolutely to any threats or wrongful actions by the Israeli regime, wherever and whenever deemed necessary,” the letter read.

Israeli officials rarely acknowledge their military operations.