Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey: A New Phase in Energy Competition?

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz joined Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov at the Jan. 6 inauguration ceremony for a natural gas pipeline running from Turkmenistan to Iran. Yildiz's presence raises the possibility that new energy routes and players could create fierce competition in the region.