Two explosions struck the gas transmission pipelines at around 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2130 GMT), hitting the lines in Borujen, western province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Safa-Shahr, southern province of Fars.

The text of Chegeni’s message is as follows:

The enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran take every opportunity to cause tension, insecurity, disturbance and dissatisfaction among the public and they do not adhere to any moral and human principles to achieve their evil goal and serve their brutal interests at the expense of public security.

At the present juncture and on the threshold of important elections of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts and following the epic and meaningful turnout of dear compatriots in the rallies held to commemorate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution’s glorious victory, the sworn enemies of this country attacked the national gas transmission pipelines in a terrorist act organized in an operational-propaganda-media package early on Wednesday morning, February 14, with the aim of portraying the government as inefficient, causing public dissatisfaction, and consequently influencing people’s participation in the upcoming elections.

However, the alert and insightful people of Islamic Iran stood shoulder to shoulder like the past with public servants to foil their evil conspiracies and wishes.

I express my gratitude to all respectable colleagues in the reputable oil and gas industry, particularly my colleagues in the National Iranian Gas Company, for carrying out immediate and effective measures and preventing any interruption in the national gas transmission and distribution network through making round-the-clock efforts. I hope such events will help us get further lessons and experiences, improve effective principles of crisis management at all levels, and make us more determined to supply energy to different domestic sectors, including the economic sector.

May Almighty God bless all and grant bestow upon us opportunity to keep serving dear Islamic Iran.