Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey Gas Route
Potentially, a gas pipeline route through Iran
could be an alternative to the trans-Caspian pipeline
for exporting Turkmen gas to Turkey. However, at present, the US
opposes such a pipeline. In addition, Iran's notoriously high transit fees
are a drawback of the Iranian route in the short term. Also, in the longer
run, Iran may want to export its own gas to Turkey,
and could, therefore, have a conflict of interests in transporting Turkmenistan
gas to the same market.
On balance, Turkey appears to favor the trans-Caspian
route; but it is badly in need of gas and will support whatever line materializes
first.
Iran Gas Links