Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Tensions escalate between Iran and Israel as Iran’s oil minister accuses Israel of launching a sabotage attack on an Iranian natural gas pipeline, causing multiple explosions. The alleged attack further strains the relationship between the two countries as Israel faces backlash for its actions in the region, including its recent war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Oil Minister Javad Owji claims that the attack was an Israeli plot aimed at disrupting gas service in Iranian provinces and putting people’s gas distribution at risk. However, Owji did not provide any evidence to support his claims.
Israel has not officially acknowledged carrying out the attack, although it is known to conduct espionage missions abroad. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comments. The explosions on February 14 hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. It is reported that the pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.
The recent attack on the gas pipeline follows a series of unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011. Although tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have been ongoing for years, the recent actions have heightened concerns in the region. The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog recently warned about Iran’s lack of transparency regarding its atomic program. These rising tensions also coincide with attacks launched by groups armed by Iran, targeting Israel.
In the midst of these events, Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue to attack commercial shipping in the region, prompting airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, the Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks, causing damage to ships and downing an American drone. The U.S. military has acknowledged shooting down a Houthi bomb-carrying drone and thwarted attempts to target ships in the Red Sea.
The U.S. State Department has criticized the Houthi rebels for their attacks on civilian cargo ships, which have caused delays in humanitarian aid reaching countries in need. The State Department spokesperson emphasized that the actions of the rebels do not provide any assistance to the Palestinian people in the region. Additionally, a suspected Israeli strike in Syria’s capital, Damascus, targeted members of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, further adding to the ongoing tensions in the region.