Were Recent Explosions in Iran Intentional or Accidental? A Conversation with Alireza Nourizada and Mehrdad Khansari
The occurrence of several widespread fires in various regions of Iran and the sinking of the ship Khark in recent days have raised questions in the minds of many about whether these incidents were accidental or intentional.
Many in Persian and Arabic media have raised the possibility of Israeli involvement, but Islamic Republic officials say all of these are accidents.
In this regard, Alireza Nourizada, a journalist and analyst of political issues, told the English service of Voice of America that the recent fires in Ahvaz were probably not sabotage, since they occur every year during the summer season in the Ahvaz oil fields. However, Mr. Nourizada considers the sinking of the Khark ship and the fire at Tehran’s refinery to be likely intentional.
According to Alireza Nourizada, the fire at Tehran’s refinery “was not an ordinary fire. It was very precise and detailed and caused enormous damage.”
Mr. Nourizada considers one of the major problems of the Islamic Republic system to be the appointment of “incompetent people without any technical experience at the helm of Iran’s oil facilities and other major infrastructure.”
Mehrdad Khansari, a former diplomat, also told the English service of Voice of America that the reason for the Islamic Republic authorities’ denial of foreign powers’ involvement in recent events in Iran is their embarrassment in admitting that they are unable to protect the country’s sensitive infrastructure.
Mr. Khansari adds: “There are many parties who want to tell Iranians that what Iran does in the region — such as providing missiles that are fired toward Israel, or attacking Saudi oil facilities, or damaging Israeli ships through mine-laying in the Persian Gulf — will not come without a cost.”
Mehrdad Khansari further cites a former captain of the Khark ship, which sank in Omani waters last week, saying that such a ship would not sink “unless it was targeted by a submarine or another explosive device from underwater.” According to Mr. Khansari, only a small number of countries are technically capable of carrying out such an operation.
Source: Voice of America
