TEHRAN: Two Iranian Revolutionary Guards were killed in a “gas leak” in a Guards’ workshop in the center of the country, local media reported Thursday.
“Lt. Col. Mokhtar Morshedi and Captain Mojtaba Nazari were martyred,” Fars news agency reported, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards.
It said their death came after a “gas leak incident on Wednesday night” in a Guards’ workshops in the central province of Isfahan, without providing further details.
Earlier, the official IRNA news agency had reported that “one person was martyred, and 10 others were injured due to a gas leak.”
Iran has recorded a number of previous cases involving deaths and hospitalizations due to gas leaks.
In January of last year, an explosion suspected to have been caused by a gas leak at a building in northwestern Iran killed six members of the same family.
And in June 2022, over 130 people were hospitalized with respiratory difficulties following a chemical leak at a factory in the southern city of Firuzabad.
Two Guards killed in ‘gas leak’ in central Iran: media
https://arab.news/vp29q
Two Guards killed in ‘gas leak’ in central Iran: media
- Their death came after a “gas leak incident on Wednesday night” in a Guards’ workshops in the central province of Isfahan
GCC states ‘face reliance on Saudi Arabia for food imports’
- With 70 percent of food coming through Strait of Hormuz, analysts warn of inevitable shortages
DUBAI: Some Gulf states may have to rely on overland food deliveries from Saudi Arabia if the US-Israel-Iran war continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and restrict regional airspace, analysts warned on Thursday.
The region is up to 90 percent dependent on food imports, and price surges and scarcity of some goods are expected.
“With over 70 percent of GCC foodstuffs being imported through the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf states face shortages if the war persists,” said Neil Quilliam of the Chatham House think tank.
“While GCC countries have taken steps to diversify suppliers and ensure sufficient stores to withstand disruption, this can only last several months. At this point, price increases and longer lead times will start to hit the markets.”
Commodities analyst Ishan Bhanu said: “The biggest immediate effect will be due to the blockade of Jebel Ali in Dubai, serving about 50 million people. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq effectively become landlocked and will depend on overland routes through Saudi Arabia.”
Bottlenecks are yet to show and the UAE has said its strategic reserves of vital goods cover four to six months of needs. It urged residents to report unjustified price increases through a dedicated hotline.
Supermarket staff throughout the Gulf said shelves remain largely stocked, though suppliers are taking longer to replenish certain products. Iran’s strikes on the Gulf since Saturday prompted panic buying in supermarkets, a dry run for what could come.
“Perception of risk matters, and even if stocks are sufficient now, public runs on supermarkets can spook the public,” Quilliam said.
