Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Early Wednesday, explosions rocked a natural gas pipeline in Iran, leading an official to attribute the blasts to a “sabotage and terrorist action” in the country. The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Details about the explosions were limited, but they reportedly struck a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The pipeline, which spans approximately 1,270 kilometers (790 miles), originates in Asaluyeh, a central hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.
Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran’s gas network control center, indicated that the explosions were the result of “sabotage and terrorist” action in multiple areas along the pipeline. Despite the absence of known insurgent groups in that province, the manager did not specify any potential suspects behind the blasts.
While the province where the pipeline is located is not known for insurgent activity, Arab separatists in southwestern Iran have previously claimed attacks targeting oil pipelines. In contrast, such attacks on infrastructure are infrequent in other parts of the country.
Over the years, Iran has grappled with separatist unrest from various ethnic groups, including Kurds in the northwest, the Baluch in the east, and Arabs in the southwest, following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. However, the country’s internal tensions have been compounded by economic challenges stemming from international sanctions linked to its nuclear program.
In recent years, Iran has faced widespread demonstrations, including protests in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly arrested due to her attire in violation of the mandatory headscarf requirement. Simultaneously, Israel has targeted Iran’s nuclear program through a series of attacks, with the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog expressing concerns about the transparency of Iran’s atomic program.
At the same time, Iran-backed militias in the region – including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels – have launched attacks against Israel, coinciding with the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Amid these developments, tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities have surged, particularly as the Houthis continue to target commercial shipping, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by the U.S. and the United Kingdom.