Safashahr, Iran – Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji announced that the recent explosions along Iran’s main south-north gas pipeline network were the result of sabotage. The attacks, which occurred in the cities of Borujen and Safashahr, caused gas outages in nearby villages, but did not affect industrial plants or offices. The National Iranian Gas Company confirmed that the incidents did not result in any casualties, and the fires that resulted from the explosions were quickly brought under control.
Owji referenced a similar act of sabotage in 2011, which also disrupted gas transmission in multiple regions of the country. Despite the absence of a claim of responsibility for the recent attacks, Iranian officials did not hesitate to attribute similar acts of sabotage in the past to agents of their arch-foe, Israel.
This is not the first time that Iran has faced such incidents. In 2017, Iranian Arab separatists took responsibility for bombing two oil pipelines in the western Khuzestan region. These attacks have contributed to ongoing tensions between Iran and its adversaries.
The Iranian government’s swift response to these incidents highlights the significance of the country’s gas infrastructure and the potential impact that sabotage could have on the nation’s energy security. It also raises questions about the motives of the perpetrators and the potential repercussions for regional stability.
As Iran works to repair the damaged pipelines and restore gas supply to affected areas, the international community will be closely monitoring the situation. The lack of clear identification of the perpetrators leaves room for speculation and further complicates an already complex geopolitical landscape.