Getting Yer (low-intensity) War On: Turkey/Iran Pipeline "Sabotaged"

[Leigh Meyers <leighcmeyers@xxxxxxxxx>]

Iran-Turkey pipeline blast likely sabotage
http://www.upi.com/Energy/view.php?StoryID=20060929-100444-5554r

TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- An explosion in the Iran-Turkey gas pipeline
is likely an act of sabotage, the director-general of the National
Iranian Gas Co. said Friday.

The explosion late Thursday halted the export of Iranian gas to Turkey.

"We are investigating the explosion but our initial assessment indicates
that the explosion was an act of sabotage," Seyyed Reza Kasaizadeh said.

His comments were reported by the Mehr news agency.

This is the first time the pipeline has been hit inside Iran, he said,
noting that previous attacks were on the Turkish side.

Kurdish rebels operate in the area though no one has yet claimed
responsibility.

Kasaizadeh said about 60 to 70 meters of the pipeline have to be
replaced because of the destruction.

Export of gas will be resumed in the next two to three days, he said.

Iran exports 20 million cubic meters of gas per day to Turkey.

Turkish officials, meanwhile, said the interruption in gas flow was not
causing an energy.

Officials from the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corp., or BOTAS, told the
Anatolia news agency they expect the pipeline to be repaired in three or
four days. They said Turkey will meet the shortfall from the Blue Stream
natural gas pipeline.