EXPLOSIONS struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early today, with an official blaming the blasts on terrorism.

This comes as tensions remain high in the region as Israel continues its war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Details were scarce, though the blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. 

The roughly 790-mile pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.

Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran’s gas network control centre, told Iranian television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.

There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran’s Lur ethnic group. Mr Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.

Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assault on gas pipelines in 2011 — including around the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. 

Tehran marked the 45th anniversary of the revolution on Sunday.

Mr Owji said: “The goal that the enemies were pursuing was to cut the gas in the major provinces of the country and it did not happen.

“Except for the number of villages that were near the gas transmission lines, no province suffered a cut.”

In the past, Arab separatists in south-west Iran have claimed attacks against oil pipelines. However, attacks elsewhere in Iran against such infrastructure are rare.

Tensions have also risen in recent years as Iran has been hit by international sanctions over its nuclear energy programme. 

On Tuesday, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog warned that Iran is “not entirely transparent” regarding its atomic programme, particularly after an official who once led Tehran's programme announced the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon “in our hands.”