Israel behind Iran gas pipeline blast: Minister
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Wednesday that Israel was behind twin sabotage attacks against gas pipelines in southwestern Iran last week.
The February 14 explosions hit pipelines in the cities of Safashahr, in the southern province of Fars, and Borujen, in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. The sabotage attacks against pipelines in southwestern Iran caused a temporary disruption to gas supplies. “The explosion of the country’s gas lines was the work of Israel,” Owji told reporters, adding, the plot was foiled because only a few pipelines were damaged.
“The enemy intended to disturb gas service in the provinces and put people’s gas distribution at risk.”
“The evil action and plot by the enemy was properly managed,” IRNA quoted Owji as saying. Owji said the gas supply network is operating normally. The minister said the gas pipelines were immediately fixed and the plot could not affect the situation in the cities and villages. Israel has not acknowledged carrying out the attack, though it rarely claims its espionage missions abroad. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime foe of Iran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, AP reported.