Turkey Suspends Turkmen Gas Imports Through Iran Amid Rising US Pressure

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Thursday that Turkey has ceased importing natural gas from Turkmenistan through Iran. Speaking during a briefing with journalists, Bayraktar explained that the decision was driven primarily by pressure from the United States, which complicated the logistics of the trade route.

The arrangement for gas imports had begun in March 2025. Under this deal, Turkey planned to receive 1.3 billion cubic metres of gas annually, utilizing existing Iranian infrastructure to facilitate the transfer. The Turkish state-owned gas importer, Botas, held an import license for this specific arrangement that remained valid until 2033.

Tensions in the supply chain began earlier in October 2025 when Ashgabat cut off the flow of gas. Turkmenistan cited a short-term contract as the reason for the halt, stating that without a formal agreement on specific volumes or pricing, it could not continue selling gas to Ankara. This initial disruption set the stage for the subsequent complications involving US policy.

Bayraktar noted that Ankara had previously intended to resume these imports earlier in the year. However, those plans did not come to fruition due to the broader geopolitical context. The minister revealed that the core issue was the US-Iran war, which had started in February, creating a challenging environment for energy transactions involving Iranian assets.

Regarding the specific mechanism of the halt, Bayraktar stated, 'Then we stopped because OFAC, (US Office of Foreign Assets Control), somehow involved in this.' He clarified that while Turkey was not making direct payments to Iran, the escalating situation between Tehran and Washington made the arrangement difficult to sustain. He described the current flow of gas as moving southward in this new context.

The minister highlighted that Turkey currently possesses spare capacity in the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline. He indicated that the infrastructure is robust enough to easily double the volume of gas exported to European partners, providing a potential buffer for regional energy security.

Bayraktar also pointed out that Azerbaijan's gas reserves are slowly being depleted. He suggested that Turkmenistan's abundant gas reserves could serve as a viable alternative to meet the energy needs of both the Turkish market and European consumers. This potential shift underscores the strategic importance of securing new supply sources in the region.

Despite the potential benefits, infrastructure challenges remain significant. A major obstacle is the ongoing dispute over exclusive economic zones in the Caspian Sea. This disagreement makes it more difficult to construct a direct gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, which would otherwise provide a more stable supply route for Turkey.

Furthermore, Turkey's own gas contracts with Iran are set to expire in November. It remains unclear whether Ankara is prepared to renew these agreements. The uncertainty is compounded by US sanctions targeting Iran, which intensified earlier this year. These sanctions have forced countries in the region to take specific actions against Iranian businesses and the financial sector, adding another layer of complexity to regional energy trade.