Turkish minister: Ankara seeks extension of gas contract with Iran
Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that the country wants to extend its natural gas supply contract with Iran, which is set to expire in the coming months. However, he noted that negotiations on the matter have not yet begun due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US, which is currently under a 15-day ceasefire ending on Tuesday.
The United States and Israel launched their aggression against Iran on February 28.
The gas agreement, due to expire in July, provides for delivery of 9.6 billion cubic meters of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short.
Turkey imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regulator data show the pipeline last hit the contracted volume in 2022, Reuters reported.
"According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkey. There is no negotiation right now ongoing. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension," Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.
"But we haven't started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region," Bayraktar said, referring to the Iran war.