Blast hits major gas transmission pipelines in southern Iran
Two explosions struck gas pipelines in Iran early Wednesday in an act of “terrorism and sabotage” that disrupted gas supplies in three of the country’s provinces.
“This act of terrorism and sabotage was carried out in two locations at around 1 a.m.,” National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) manager Saeed Aghli said, according to Shana News Agency.
The saboteurs hit pipelines in the cities of Borujen in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Safashahr in the southern province of Fars, Aghli said, adding that there were no casualties in the explosions or the ensuing fires.
The sabotage disrupted gas supplies in at least three provinces – North Khorasan in the northeast, Lorestan in the west, and Zanjan in the northwest.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji also confirmed the attacks, saying the attacks caused a massive explosion and a subsequent fire.
Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet session in the capital Tehran on Wednesday, Owji said that saboteurs blew up the transmission lines at around 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2130 GMT Tuesday).
He said that the NIGC has well managed to bring the situation under control.
The Iranian oil minister highlighted that repair work on the affected pipelines is underway, and hopefully the flow on the pipelines will resume within 12-14 hours.