Deep Dive On Iran's Natural Gas Pipeline: Was Israel Behind The Explosive Attack?

The alleged Israeli sabotage attack on an Iranian natural gas pipeline, resulting in multiple explosions a week ago, was claimed by Iran's oil minister on Wednesday. He further asserted that the incident escalated tensions between the two regional adversaries amid Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The attack has not been acknowledged by Israel, which typically refrains from claiming responsibility for its espionage missions abroad.

Photo Credit: X/@KorsasErik

Iran Blames Israel

Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji stated, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, that "the explosion of the gas pipeline was an Israeli plot" to disrupt gas service in the provinces and jeopardize gas distribution for the people.

Owji added, "The evil action and plot by the enemy was properly managed," though he provided no evidence to support his claims. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The explosions, occurring on February 14, targeted a natural gas pipeline running from Iran's western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea.

The approximately 1,270-kilometer pipeline originates in Asaluyeh, serving as a hub for Iran's offshore South Pars gas field. The attack was compared by Owji to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011, coinciding with the anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Israel has previously conducted attacks in Iran, primarily targeting its nuclear program. Last week, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned of Iran's lack of transparency regarding its atomic program, particularly after an official formerly leading Tehran's program announced Iran's possession of all components for a weapon.

Tensions over Iran's nuclear program persist as groups supported by Tehran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, launch attacks on Israel amid the Gaza conflict. The Houthis continue to target commercial shipping in the region, prompting airstrikes from the US and UK. Despite a month of such airstrikes, the Houthi rebels maintain their capability to launch significant attacks.

This week, they inflicted substantial damage on a ship in a vital strait and downed an American drone worth millions. Furthermore, a suspected Israeli strike on Wednesday targeted a neighbourhood in Damascus, Syria, where previous strikes likely aimed at members of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard have occurred.

What We Know About Iran Gas Pipeline Attack

According to the New York Times report, secret strikes on two major Iranian gas pipelines were allegedly staged by Israel this week, posing a threat to energy supply across Iran. Here are some important points on the attack:

1. Impact on Gas Supply and Infrastructure - The attacks, which reportedly hit multiple points along the pipelines in the Fars and Chahar Mahal Bakhtiari provinces, disrupted natural gas flow to up to five provinces in Iran.
2. Uncertainty Surrounding the Method of Attack - It remains unclear whether drones or explosives were utilized in executing the strikes, but experts suggest the involvement of local collaborators.
3. Significance of Israel's Actions - Experts view Israel's actions as a significant escalation in its strategy against Iran, indicating a shift beyond targeting military and nuclear sites to include critical infrastructure.
4. Iranian Response and Damage Assessment - Iran's Oil Minister, Javad Owji, characterized the strikes as a deliberate plan to incite domestic discontent and disrupt gas flow during winter. However, he did not directly attribute blame to Israel.
5. Repair Efforts and Service Restoration - Iran's Ministry of Oil dispatched technical teams to assess and repair the damage swiftly, resulting in the restoration of gas service.
6. Symbolic Warning and Potential Impact - While the damage was promptly repaired, Western officials see the escalation as a symbolic warning of Israel's capabilities, with experts estimating that the attacks disabled approximately 15 per cent of Iran's daily natural gas production.
7. Infrastructure Details and Scale of Impact - The two pipelines, spanning about 1,200 km, supply gas from southern Iran to major urban centres in the north, including Tehran and Isfahan. The attacks on such significant infrastructure represent an unprecedented scale and scope.
8. Involvement of Local Collaborators - Reports suggest that the attackers may have had access to information about patrol schedules along the pipelines, hinting at the involvement of local collaborators.
9. Social Impact and Casualties - Although no casualties were reported, social media posts depicted locals reacting to the explosions, underscoring the social disruption caused by the strikes.
10. Context of Rising Tensions - The strikes occur amid heightened tensions between Iran and its regional allies and Israel and the US, both of which have conducted recent strikes against Tehran-backed groups in Syria and Iraq.