New York Times cites Western officials: The explosion of Iran's gas pipeline was the work of Israel

The American newspaper New York Times reported on Friday, February 16, citing two Western officials and a military strategist affiliated with the IRGC, that the explosions of Iran's gas pipelines in the early hours of Wednesday, February 15, are related to Israel. According to the report, Western officials say these attacks were 'complex and precise' and required deep knowledge of Iran's infrastructure and complete coordination with internal agents. It is still unclear how these pipelines were targeted, but the possibility of using drones, explosives, or other methods exists. Two Western officials also stated that the explosion on Thursday at a chemical factory in Quds city, west of Tehran, was also the work of Israel. Iranian officials have not commented specifically on this incident. According to the New York Times, these attacks represent a significant change in the 'shadow war' that Israel and Iran have been waging for years through air, land, sea, and cyber attacks. According to officials and analysts, the explosion of part of the energy infrastructure of a country that industries, factories, and millions of civilians rely on indicates an escalation of the covert war and seems to open a new frontier. One Western official described Israel's attack on Iran's gas transmission lines as a 'major symbolic attack' that was relatively easy for the Islamic Republic to repair and caused little damage to civilians, but it showed that if the conflict in the Middle East escalates and tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel and the United States increase, Israel could inflict serious damage on Iran's infrastructure and the Islamic Republic's government. The occurrence of two explosions in Iran's main and nationwide gas artery in the early hours of Wednesday, February 15, which Iranian officials deemed a 'sabotage act,' has led to various reactions. Some users attributed it to 'chaos and rebellion,' while others considered these explosions a 'result of Ali Khamenei's failed strategy.' The Iranian Minister of Oil confirmed the 'sabotage' nature of the explosions of the two pipelines on Wednesday, February 15, stating to reporters that 'we were already prepared for all our oil and gas facilities.' According to news agencies in Iran, Javad Owji, referring to 'events that have occurred in the region,' claimed that the pipeline explosions were related to the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, adding: 'We knew that with this February 11 march, the enemy would try to create challenges for the people.' The explosion in gas transmission pipelines in three provinces of Iran; Minister of Oil: We knew beforehand and were prepared. Images of the fire following the explosion in the gas pipelines in Boroujen. A massive explosion in western Tehran; an internal media outlet: Several factories and a military base exist nearby. Reactions to the explosions in Iran; users: It is Khamenei's 'failed strategy.' The sound of insecurity in Iran; a 'sabotage' explosion in the main gas transmission pipeline in two provinces; gas was cut off in various cities.