The Armenian section runs from the Meghri region to Kajaran, and another 197 kilometres (122 mi) of pipeline is planned to reach the center of the country, where it will link up with the existing distribution network.
The plans to build the pipeline for Iranian gas to flow into Armenia were initially announced on 15 April 2002 by Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian.
[1] It started operations on 20 December 2006, and was officially inaugurated by the Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Robert Kocharyan of Armenia on 19 March 2007.
If the pipeline had been built at the initial diameter, it would have allowed Iran to export to markets in Europe, therefore competing with Russia's own natural gas industry.
[3] Analysts argue that the pipeline was in part intended to extend Iran's influence in Caucasus, however was subdued due to Russian control before the construction ended.