Iran Suspects Israeli Sabotage Behind Wave of Explosions and Fires: Tehran avoids open blame

A string of mysterious explosions and fires across Iran in recent weeks is being internally attributed to deliberate acts of sabotage, likely by Israel, according to a report by The New York Times published Wednesday morning.

While Iranian officials have avoided publicly accusing Israel, citing concerns over being drawn into direct confrontation, senior figures, including a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have privately pointed the finger at Israeli intelligence operations.

“Israel has a history of covert operations in Iran — assassinations, bombings, cyberattacks — and it doesn’t end,” one official told the Times.

A Pattern of Unexplained Destruction

In recent weeks, Iran has experienced an unusually high frequency of fires and explosions, many occurring in close geographic and temporal proximity. Incidents include:

• A fire at a refinery in Abadan that killed one person and injured several others.

• An explosion near Mashhad International Airport.

• A blast in Qom, where a residential building was destroyed and seven people were injured.

• A fire in a shoe factory, and explosions in various residential and judicial complexes.

Despite the severity of some incidents, official explanations have mostly pointed to gas leaks, faulty infrastructure, or human negligence. The head of the Tehran Fire Department stated: “The equipment is old, people are using substandard gas appliances and are not adhering to safety rules.”

However, senior Iranian sources told the Times that these explanations are largely intended for public consumption, while internal assessments strongly suspect sabotage — most likely part of Israel's covert operations strategy in Iran.

European Diplomats Echo Concerns

A European diplomat involved in regional monitoring echoed Iranian suspicions, saying the incidents align with “the Israeli pattern of action – both against direct targets and as psychological warfare.”

So far, no conclusive evidence has been made public linking Israel to the events. Still, the frequency, scale, and targets — including complexes for judicial employees — suggest a coordinated and calculated campaign, according to multiple Iranian and foreign sources.

In one case, a Tehran apartment previously rented to suspected foreign agents exploded due to what officials say was an intentionally engineered gas leak. Another explosion in a residential complex for judicial officials has increased fears that no segment of Iranian society is off-limits.

Tehran Cautious to Avoid Retaliation Spiral

Iranian leadership appears to be treading carefully. “We are not in a ceasefire — we are in a fragile pause,” warned Mehdi Mohammadi, an advisor to the Speaker of Parliament. “At any moment it could end, and we will return to war.”

According to political and military insiders, Tehran is deliberately withholding public accusations to avoid being obliged to retaliate militarily, which could reignite full-scale hostilities in an already volatile region.

Public Sentiment: War Feels Imminent

Despite the government’s restraint, public anxiety is growing. “Many of us think this is the work of Israel and that the war is about to resume,” said Mohammad, a gallery owner in Kashan who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

The Iranian regime's balancing act — between controlling the narrative and addressing internal fears — reflects the tense geopolitical reality. With no ceasefire agreement in place, and mounting suspicion that foreign adversaries are operating inside Iran, many believe that renewed conflict is no longer a question of 'if' but 'when.'