Two recent major explosions targeting natural gas pipelines in Iran are reportedly attributed to Israel intervention, as part of its covert efforts to halt Iran’s spread of terror-related activities, according to The New York Times.
Both explosions occurred on Wednesday along Iran’s main south-north gas pipeline network, significantly disrupting gas supplies in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. Immediately following the explosions, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji described them as acts of sabotage, though he did not directly blame Israel.
“This act of sabotage was executed today at around 1:00 a.m. on two to three sections of the main gas pipeline line,” Owji was quoted by Iran’s SNN television.
“We anticipated such sabotage acts around the anniversary of the Iranian revolution and promptly adjusted the transmission network’s configuration to thwart the enemy’s goal of causing gas shortages in major provinces,” he added.
While Israel has denied any involvement, the report suggests that such operations necessitated a deep understanding of Iran’s infrastructure and meticulous coordination, implying a deliberate strategy to impair Iran’s energy sector.
The New York Times further contends that Israel has historically targeted Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, including the execution of targeted assassinations of crucial Iranian nuclear scientists, and has routinely conducted cyberattacks disrupting the oil ministry’s servers.
