Multiple explosions reportedly struck Iranian natural gas pipelines overnight.
An Iranian government official labeled the blasts “terrorism and sabotage,” Al Jazeera reports.
“Details were scarce, though the blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field,” the Associated Press wrote.
Blasts hit Iran’s natural gas pipeline in act of ‘sabotage:’ official https://t.co/1jXgUEduFM pic.twitter.com/JT2d14Wjuq
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The aftermath of the explosions was reportedly visible from a distance of 30 miles.
WATCH:
A significant explosion occurred on a gas pipeline between the cities of Shahrekord and Borujen in Iran.
The explosion and its aftermath were so substantial that they were visible from a distance of 30 miles.
The affected section of the pipeline serves as a crucial conduit… pic.twitter.com/jfAbc8k8CV
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) February 14, 2024
Fire breaks out following explosion at key Iran natural gas pipeline
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The Associated Press reports:
Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran’s gas network control center, told Iranian state television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.
There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran’s Lur ethnic group. Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji, also speaking to state TV, compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assault on gas pipelines in 2011 — including around the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran marked the 45th anniversary of the revolution on Sunday.
“The goal that the enemies were pursuing were to cut the gas in the major provinces of the country and it did not happen,” Owji said. “Except for the number of villages that were near the gas transmission lines, no province suffered a cut.”
In the past, Arab separatists in southwestern Iran have claimed attacks against oil pipelines. However, attacks elsewhere in Iran against such infrastructure are rare.
NEW: Two explosions struck gas pipelines in Iran early Wednesday in an act of “terrorism and sabotage” that disputed gas supplies in three of the country’s provinces, state media reported.
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Per Al Jazeera:
The blasts come amid raised tension as Israel’s war in Gaza threatens to spill over across the region. While Tehran has not specified who it suspects, it has linked other such incidents to Israel over the years.
“This terrorist act of sabotage occurred at 1am (21:30 GMT) on Wednesday morning in the network of national gas transmission pipelines in two regions of the country,” oil minister Javad Owji told state TV.
Starting in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field, the first pipeline runs 1,270 kilometres (790 miles) to the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
Authorities denied reports that the incident caused gas cuts to industries and offices.
“We hope the pipeline will be repaired and will become operational as soon as possible,” Saeed Aghili, the manager of Iran’s gas network control centre, told Iranian state television.