Yesterday’s statement made by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz, concerning the intention of the Islamic Republic to build a pipeline to supply Iranian gas to Europe in the near future, became one of the first fruits of the resumption of previously-interrupted economic relations between the West and Iran."We know that Iran is going to lay a gas pipeline to Europe. Five European countries have already planned to import Iranian gas," Yildiz said. VK asked Turkish experts to explain why such important information came from Turkey and not from Iran itself.
Associate Professor of the School of International Relations at the University of Economics and Technology TOBB (Ankara), Togrul Ismail, pointed out that the most likely route for this pipeline is through the territory of Turkey, because it is the shortest route from Iran to Europe. " Furthermore, the two countries actively cooperate in the energy sector and it is due to this fact that Turkey has always tried to be a mediator between the West and Iran one way or the other, even in the field of nuclear development in Iran. Turkey has strived to mitigate sanctions against Iran," Ismail says.
As to the project deadlines, the analyst believes that it all depends on the dialogue between the West and Iran. "We see some positive change so far, but it does not mean that the sanctions against Iran have already been lifted. Perhaps the thaw in relations is of some strategic nature. We will be able to see in the future how the West will react to the Iranian nuclear programme," he explained.
Nevertheless, the cooperation between Turkey and Iran itself for the purposes of supplying energy to the West looks quite real, given the fact that Turkey and Iran receive gas from Turkmenistan. "It all depends on on the relationship between the West and Iran and their further development," the expert emphasized once again.
Journalist and political scientist specializing in Russia and the CIS Jenk Bashlamyshly said that this Iranian initiative fully conforms with Turkish interests, because nowadays the country is positioning itself as an energy supply bridge between East and West. Moreover, from his point of view the proposed Iranian gas pipeline will help Turkey diversify its gas supply.
