A strong explosion struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on terrorism.
This comes as tensions remain high in the region with Israel and Palestinian’s war in the focus.
The blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea.
The roughly 790-mile pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.
Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran’s gas network control centre, told Iranian television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.”
There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran’s Lur ethnic group. Mr Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assault on gas pipelines in 2011.
