Kremlin: Sabotage Cannot Be Ruled Out as Reason for Nord Stream Damage

This file photo taken on November 8, 2011 shows a view of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline terminal prior to an inaugural ceremony for the first of Nord Stream's twin 1,224 kilometer gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, in Lubmin, northeastern Germany. (AFP)
This file photo taken on November 8, 2011 shows a view of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline terminal prior to an inaugural ceremony for the first of Nord Stream's twin 1,224 kilometer gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, in Lubmin, northeastern Germany. (AFP)
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Kremlin: Sabotage Cannot Be Ruled Out as Reason for Nord Stream Damage

This file photo taken on November 8, 2011 shows a view of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline terminal prior to an inaugural ceremony for the first of Nord Stream's twin 1,224 kilometer gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, in Lubmin, northeastern Germany. (AFP)
This file photo taken on November 8, 2011 shows a view of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline terminal prior to an inaugural ceremony for the first of Nord Stream's twin 1,224 kilometer gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, in Lubmin, northeastern Germany. (AFP)

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it did not rule out sabotage as a reason behind the damage to the Russia-built network of Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Nord Stream AG, the operator of the network, said earlier on Tuesday that three offshore lines of the Nord Stream gas pipeline system sustained "unprecedented" damage in one day.

"No option can be ruled out right now," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters when asked if sabotage was the reason for the damage.

He also said the Kremlin was very concerned with the situation, which requires a prompt investigation as it was an issue for the energy security for the "entire continent".

"This is very concerning news. Indeed, we are talking about some damage of an unclear nature to the pipeline in Denmark's economic zone," he said.

"This is an issue related to the energy security of the entire continent."

Nord Stream AG said it was impossible to estimate when the gas network system's working capability would be restored.

Nord Stream 1, which consists of two parallel lines with nameplate capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters per year each, started supplying gas directly from Russia to Germany in 2011.

Nord Stream 2, which runs almost in parallel to Nord Stream 1, was built in September 2021 but was never launched as Germany refused to certify it. The project was halted altogether just days before Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.



Iran Media: Russian Rocket Puts Iran Satellite into Space

A Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster with a Fregat upper stage, carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites and 18 payloads, including Iran's Nahid-2 telecommunications satellite, blasts off from its launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far-eastern Amur region, Russia July 25, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERS
A Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster with a Fregat upper stage, carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites and 18 payloads, including Iran's Nahid-2 telecommunications satellite, blasts off from its launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far-eastern Amur region, Russia July 25, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERS
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Iran Media: Russian Rocket Puts Iran Satellite into Space

A Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster with a Fregat upper stage, carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites and 18 payloads, including Iran's Nahid-2 telecommunications satellite, blasts off from its launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far-eastern Amur region, Russia July 25, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERS
A Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster with a Fregat upper stage, carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites and 18 payloads, including Iran's Nahid-2 telecommunications satellite, blasts off from its launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far-eastern Amur region, Russia July 25, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERS

A Russian rocket put an Iranian communications satellite into space on Friday, Iranian state media reported, the latest achievement for an aerospace program that has long concerned Western governments.

"The Nahid-2 communications satellite was launched from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome using a Soyuz rocket," state television said.

Weighing 110 kilograms (over 240 pounds), the satellite was designed and manufactured by Iranian engineers, the broadcaster added.

Western governments have long expressed concern that technological advances made in Iran's space program can also be used to upgrade its ballistic missile arsenal, AFP reported.

The launch was announced shortly before nuclear talks between Iran and Britain, France and Germany opened in Istanbul.

In December, Iran announced it had put its heaviest payload to date into space, using a domestically manufactured satellite carrier.

In September, Iran said it had put the Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit using the Ghaem-100 carrier, which is produced by the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace division.