Iran has experienced a series of explosions and fires across multiple cities in recent weeks. Iranian officials, including Alireza Shokouhian, head of passive defense at the National Iranian Gas Company, initially attributed these incidents to internal technical issues and improper gas consumption, denying any evidence of sabotage or terrorist acts. Shokouhian noted that since 2020, gas-related incidents have been on the rise, with 90% linked to technical faults or misuse. However, more recent reports, including those cited by The New York Times and European officials, suggest that many of the fires and explosions were deliberate acts of sabotage. Iranian authorities have not ruled out the involvement of Israel in these incidents, which some officials describe as part of a covert conflict. This shift in narrative contrasts earlier official statements that blamed gas leaks and pipe ruptures for the explosions.