Iranian officials increasingly suspect a coordinated campaign of sabotage may be behind the recent wave of unexplained fires and explosions across the country, The New York Times reported.
Over the past two weeks, Iran has seen near-daily reports of fires, blasts, and industrial accidents, striking residential towers, oil facilities, airports, and commercial buildings in cities including Tehran, Karaj, Qom, Mashhad and Tabriz.
While state media and officials have attributed most of the incidents to aging infrastructure or gas leaks, three Iranian officials, including a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), told New York Times that they believe many of the events are deliberate acts of sabotage.
Though no evidence was provided, the officials pointed to Israel’s long history of covert operations in Iran, especially its use of targeted assassinations and cyberattacks.
The Iranian government has not publicly acknowledged the sabotage theory. Officials who have spoken publicly say the explosions are the result of technical faults, maintenance issues, or "owner negligence." But the absence of convincing explanations has fueled public skepticism.
On July 10, an explosion at a residential tower in western Tehran caused heavy structural damage and injured several people. Authorities blamed a gas leak, but local eyewitnesses told media outlets the building had not yet been connected to the gas grid.
In one 24-hour span last week, explosions and fires were reported at Mashhad Airport, a desert area near Semnan, and a commercial building in central Tehran. Officials attributed the Mashhad incident to the "controlled burning of weeds," further feeding public disbelief.
