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Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar calmed concerns over Türkiye’s energy security following rising tensions between Iran and Israel, stating that natural gas imports from Iran continue without disruption and that Türkiye has not imported oil from the country since 2019.
Following a Cabinet meeting held at the Presidential Complex on Tuesday, Minister Bayraktar told reporters that Türkiye does not face any issues regarding natural gas supply security. He underlined, “We receive gas from Iran, but we do not buy oil. We do not see any problem on the gas front.”
In March, Türkiye imported 561 million standard cubic meters (19.81 billion standard cubic feet) of natural gas from Iran, making up nearly 10% of the country’s total natural gas imports, according to official data.
Bayraktar acknowledged that the recent clashes between Israel and Iran could have a negative impact on global oil supply. “There might be some disruptions in global supply. Prices have already responded—they have slightly increased. Could they rise further? It’s possible, but we don’t see any issues on the supply side,” he noted.
As of June 17, Brent crude oil is priced at $74.35 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark WTI crude trades at $72.78.
Bayraktar emphasized that Türkiye has not imported any crude oil from Iran for the past five years. Instead, the country relies on shipments originating from the Persian Gulf, which pass through the Strait of Hormuz before reaching Türkiye. These imports account for about 20% of the country's total oil supply, based on last year’s figures. “We need to find ways to replace that volume,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of domestic production, stating that crude extracted from the Gabar region now meets approximately 8% of Türkiye’s total oil demand.
Bayraktar warned that the most significant impact of rising energy prices would be on Türkiye’s overall import costs. He noted that oil prices have climbed from around $60 to $76 per barrel, which could lead to similar increases in natural gas prices. However, he reiterated, “We do not foresee any problems with supply security. We receive gas from Iran, and there is no issue with that.”
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