Blast Halts Iran Gas Shipments to Turkey

An explosion targeting a pipeline in eastern Turkey has cut off Iranian natural gas shipments to the country, Anatolia news agency reported on Thursday citing sources from the energy ministry.

The blast occurred at 2300 GMT Wednesday in an area between villages of Hidirli and Kalender in the eastern province of Agri, said Anatolia.

The gas shipments were halted after the blast but the pipeline is expected to be back in operation within four to five days after maintenance, it added.

Turkey receives 27 million cubic meters of gas a day via the Iranian pipeline.

Officials did not identify any perpetrators but Kurdish rebels fighting for a homeland were widely seen as the main suspects.

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is regarded as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.