WANA (Oct 05) – Turkey has requested a five-year extension of its gas contract with Iran, a deal that does not serve Iran’s long-term strategic interests. However, Tehran could use the negotiations to strengthen its influence in Turkey’s energy market and increase its foreign currency earnings.
Iran’s 25-year gas export contract with Turkey is set to expire in December 2026. Negotiations are underway for renewal, with Turkey proposing to continue purchasing the current volume of 10 billion cubic meters per year for just five more years.
Experts note that a short-term contract would not secure Iran’s long-term strategic interests, making it crucial for Tehran to push for a longer-term agreement, ideally spanning at least 25 years.
Analysts suggest that increasing gas exports by two to threefold could create a mutually beneficial arrangement. Some of the gas supplied to Turkey could be re-exported to Europe, or Iran could offer price discounts to incentivize higher purchases by Ankara.
With U.S. pressures under the Trump administration encouraging Turkey to reduce imports from Russia, the timing offers Tehran an opportunity to expand its share of Turkey’s energy market and earn additional foreign revenue.
Turkey, experts note, cannot easily eliminate its over 50% dependence on Russian and Iranian gas, making Iran a critical energy partner for the country.
