Iran Accuses Israel of Sabotage in Gas Pipeline Explosions

Iran pointed fingers at Israel on Wednesday for orchestrating twin sabotage attacks on its gas pipelines last week, causing disruptions in gas supplies across three provinces. The incidents, which took place on February 14, involved explosions at pipeline facilities in the cities of Safashahr and Borujen, located in the southern and southwestern provinces of Iran, respectively.

Described by officials as acts of “sabotage and terrorism,” the explosions led to no casualties but significantly impacted gas distribution in North Khorasan, Lorestan, and Zanjan provinces. Javad Owji, Iran’s oil minister, made a direct accusation against Israel in a statement to reporters following a cabinet meeting, asserting, “The explosion of the country’s gas lines was the work of Israel.”

This public accusation marks the first occasion Owji has explicitly blamed Israel for the attacks, despite previous statements denouncing the incidents as acts of terrorism. The claims were somewhat corroborated by a report from The New York Times, which cited two Western officials and a military strategist linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggesting Israel’s involvement.

A Western official described the attack as largely symbolic to The New York Times, indicating it caused minimal physical damage and was easily repairable. Nonetheless, the act was interpreted as a warning, demonstrating Israel’s capability to inflict significant damage.

Israel has not commented on the allegations.