Press Release AIPR - Explosion Disrupts Iranian Gas Exports To Turkey

An overnight explosion damaged Iran's natural-gas export pipeline to Turkey, bringing deliveries to a halt. Officials called it an act of sabotage, while up to 22 million cubic meters of natural gas are pumped daily through the Iran-Turkey pipeline.

September 29, 2006 -- An overnight explosion damaged Iran's natural-gas export pipeline to Turkey, bringing deliveries to a halt. The head of Iran's national gas company, Reza Kasaeizadeh, confirmed Turkish reports about the blast, saying a preliminary investigation indicates it could be the result of an "act of sabotage." The border region where the blast occurred is reportedly a stronghold of Kurdish militants. Kasaeizadeh said the gas flow to Turkey could resume "within two to three days." Turkey's Botas pipeline company confirmed that gas deliveries have come to a halt. Turkish media quoted Agri district officials as saying the blast took place 1 kilometer south of the Iranian border town of Bazargan. Up to 22 million cubic meters of natural gas are pumped daily through the Iran-Turkey pipeline.