Turkiye’s long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are under way yet, Reuters quotes Turkiye’s energy minister as saying.

The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short.

“According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkiye. There is no negotiation right now ongoing. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension,” Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters in Antalya.

“But we haven’t started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region,” Bayraktar said, referring to the Iran war.