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Türkiye's 25-year natural gas supply agreement with Iran is due to expire on Wednesday, at a time when imports from its eastern neighbor surged nearly 40% during the ongoing war with the U.S., which began in March.
The agreement, which entered into force in 2001, calls for annual pipeline deliveries of around 9.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas from Iran to Türkiye through a cross-border pipeline linking Bazargan in northwestern Iran with Dogubayazit in eastern Türkiye.
Whether the deal remains in force could become clear after gas flows are checked once it reaches its scheduled expiry on July 30, as no official statement has been issued on its future.
Former executives of state energy company BOTAS who were involved in negotiating the agreement told ANKA News Agency that the contract could automatically renew for another five years unless either side formally notified the other before its expiry that it would not be extended.
Despite occasional winter supply disruptions, they described Iran as one of Türkiye's key natural gas suppliers, adding that pipeline deliveries remain important for the country's energy security.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar acknowledged in April that the natural gas supply agreement between Türkiye and Iran was nearing its expiry.
"Discussions on a possible extension could take place, but no negotiations are currently underway," Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Import data also indicate that gas deliveries through the Iranian pipeline have consistently remained below the contract's annual capacity.
In 2025, Türkiye imported 7.7 bcm of natural gas from Iran, accounting for 13.2% of total imports, well below the contract's annual capacity, although Iran remained the country's fourth-largest gas supplier.
However, imports rebounded sharply after Iran's war with the U.S. and Israel erupted in March.
Türkiye imported a combined 2.72 bcm of Iranian gas between March and May, up 39.6% from 1.95 bcm during the same period a year earlier. Iran's share of Türkiye's total natural gas imports also rose to 18.6% from 14.3%.
The monthly data showed the strongest increase in March, when imports from Iran jumped 82.8% year-on-year to 823.5 million cubic meters (mcm).
Deliveries reached 945.3 mcm in April and 951.3 mcm in May, lifting Iran's share of Türkiye's monthly gas imports to 26.1% in May, the highest level during the three months.
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