Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.1/ Trend, A. Taghiyeva /
Turkey filed a lawsuit against Iran at the International Arbitration Court because of a short supply of Iranian gas to the country, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz told journalists yesterday, the Ankara agency reported on Wednesday.
"In recent years a short supply of Iranian gas to Turkey was observed. Therefore, now this has become a case in law," Mr Yildiz said.
He added that if Iran does not reach an agreement with Turkey on lower gas prices, then Ankara will have to file a second lawsuit against Tehran to dispute the price.
"The Turkish side has already notified Iran about its intention to file the second lawsuit, but Tehran has not responded so far, " MrYildiz said.
In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to supply 10 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey annually (30 million cubic metres per day).
According to the statistical data of the Turkish State Pipeline Company Botas, Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic metres of gas from Iran in 2011. Russia ranks first, followed by Iran and Azerbaijan among exporters of gas to Turkey.