Iran says will file lawsuit against Turkmenistan over gas disruption

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Mar. 05 – Iran says it will file a lawsuit against Turkmenistan if the two sides fail to reach an agreement over compensation for last winter's gas cut.

Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Mar. 05 – Iran says it will file a lawsuit against Turkmenistan if the two sides fail to reach an agreement over compensation for last winter's gas cut.

Iran's Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari told Majlis, or Parliament, on Wednesday, "Iran will apply to the courts if Turkmenistan fails to offer compensation for cutting off gas exports to Iran in January 2008". State television carried his remarks.

Turkmenistan, Central Asia's biggest gas producer, suspended gas exports of up to 23 million cubic metres a day to Iran in December 2007, citing technical reasons. It resumed the gas supply in February 2008.

"According to the contract, Iran can file a lawsuit if the two sides do not reach an agreement through talks", Nozari said, adding that there had been two rounds of talks to settle the problem.

"The Iranian oil ministry has set up a team to follow the case. Some special reports have been prepared", Nozari said.

Iran annually imports about 5 percent of its natural gas needs from Turkmenistan.