The New York Times, citing two western officials and a source affiliated with the IRGC, has reported that Israeli operatives were behind the sabotage of Iranian gas lines in the southwest of the country earlier this week.
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Friday that the gas line explosions, which took place in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, were part of “the enemy’s plan… to disrupt the flow of gas in winter to several main cities and provinces in our country.”
Iran says the explosion in a pipeline in the west of the country, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, has been a terrorist act.
The explosion did not result in any casualties. pic.twitter.com/vTtiYPLunu
— Press TV (@PressTV) February 14, 2024
While also calling the sabotage a “terrorist attack,” he did not publicly place blame on Israel. Similarly, Israeli officials have not acknowledged the incident as they often do not comment on Israeli operations involving Iran.
The attack can be seen as a show of force to Iran, signaling Israel’s ability to conduct covert operations in the country, as tensions continue to mount amidst the backdrop of the ongoing conflict against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
