Iran's Main Gas Pipeline Hit by Sabotage, Oil Minister Reveals

_{Photo: AP}

Iran's main south-north gas pipeline network faced sabotage with two explosions on Wednesday, as confirmed by Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji on state TV. The minister refrained from naming suspects in the incident. Denying gas supply disruptions to industries and offices in certain provinces, authorities addressed the situation. Owji described the sabotage as a "terrorist act" occurring at 1 a.m. Temporary gas outages were limited to villages near the damaged pipeline and were expected to be resolved later in the day. Owji referenced a similar 2011 incident involving sabotage causing temporary gas outages in multiple regions.

While attacks of this nature are infrequent in Iran, 2017 saw claims from Arab separatist militants about blowing up two oil pipelines in coordinated attacks in Khuzestan province. In December, Iran executed five individuals accused of being saboteurs with alleged links to Israel's Mossad intelligence service, amid an ongoing shadow war where Tehran accuses Israel of attacks on its nuclear and missile activities.

This incident unfolds within the context of historical tensions and conflicts, contributing to the complexity of the geopolitical landscape in the region. The denial of gas cuts to industries and offices aims to maintain stability and address the immediate aftermath of the sabotage, shedding light on Iran's efforts to manage and control the situation while navigating through regional complexities.

Feb. 15, 2024 12:30 p.m. 1603

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