TEHRAN The gas pipeline between Iran and Turkey will become operational today in a ceremony at the border to be attended by the Iranian and Turkish energy and oil ministers.

In 1997, the two countries agreed that Iran would export 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey every year for 25 years.

The pipeline was supposed to open at the beginning of last year, but the project fell behind schedule and its initiation was postponed until July this year.

Under the agreement, Iran would initially supply three billion cubic meters of gas a year, increasing gradually to 10 billion cubic meters by 2007. A total of 225 billion cubic meters of gas is to be imported by Turkey within the 25 years.

The pipeline runs for 2,557 km into Turkey and is expected to supply 57 Turkish villages by 2003.