Tehran-Explosions at oil wells around the southwestern Iranian city of Ahwaz were of a terrorist nature, an official of the Khuzestan province governor”s office told Dow Jones Newswires Saturday.
The explosions Thursday were "terrorist operations" against Iranian oil interests, and a number of people have been taken into custody, said Gholam-Reza Shariati, deputy governor-general in charge of security affairs.
Three handmade bombs exploded before dawn Thursday, leading to the shutdown of crude oil from five wells around Ahwaz, the capital of Khuzestan, in southwest Iran, reports said.
Fires following the explosions were so large that residents in the vicinity had to leave their homes.
The semi-official "Fars" news agency quoted Nezam Mola-hoveizeh, a parliament deputy from Khuzestan, as saying the attacks were orchestrated by opponents of the Iranian government outside the country.