Turkey has stopped bringing in natural gas from Turkmenistan routed across Iran following intervention from U.S. sanctions authorities. The supply arrangement, originally designed to transfer 1.3 billion cubic metres annually, had faced operational challenges before talks to restart it collapsed entirely due to American pressure. Regional energy transit is growing increasingly precarious as Washington tightens enforcement amid wartime conditions. Meanwhile, Turkey's direct long-term gas contracts with Tehran are set to expire in November, leaving future import agreements uncertain.
Key points
U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control involvement halted Turkey's attempts to resume impo…: U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control involvement halted Turkey's attempts to resume imports following an outbreak of war between the United States and Iran.
Turkey's direct natural gas contracts with Iran are scheduled to expire in November with…: Turkey's direct natural gas contracts with Iran are scheduled to expire in November with renewal prospects remaining entirely uncertain.
Caspian Sea border disputes continue to block a direct pipeline to Azerbaijan, preventing…: Caspian Sea border disputes continue to block a direct pipeline to Azerbaijan, preventing Turkey from accessing Turkmen gas without traversing Iranian territory.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Turkey had to stop gas imports from Turkmenistan through Iran due to US pressure, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar revealed on Thursday during a briefing with journalists.
Ankara began receiving gas from Turkmenistan in March 2025 under a deal to supply 1.3 billion cubic metres annually using Iranian infrastructure. Turkish gas importer Botas had an import licence for the arrangement valid until 2033.
However, Ashgabat cut the flow of gas in October 2025, saying the two countries had a short-term contract and that, without an agreement on volumes or prices, it could not sell gas to Ankara.
Bayraktar said earlier this year that Ankara had planned to resume gas imports from Turkmenistan via Iran, but those plans did not materialise.
He has now revealed that the real problem was the US-Iran war, which started in February.
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