Turkey is confident that Iran will not close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.
“Closing the Strait of Hormuz would create a major problem. We are confident that Iran will not take such a step. The recent tensions have once again reminded us how critical energy security is,” Erdoğan told journalists on his return from the NATO summit in The Hague, as reported by TRT Haber.
“Two days ago, rumors spread that Iran had ‘cut off gas supplies to Turkey.’ I immediately discussed the issue with my energy minister, who then contacted his Iranian counterpart. In reality, there is no such situation. We also had a conversation with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. We don’t even consider the possibility that natural gas supplies from Iran could be halted. There are no issues between us,” the Turkish leader emphasized.
Erdoğan noted that Turkey is working to reduce its energy imports and increase domestic production in a bid to become fully energy independent.
“We are actively developing our own energy resources. We’re extracting oil in Gabar [a region in southeastern Turkey] and natural gas in the Black Sea, and we are working to increase production. Our goal is to cut imports and boost domestic output to achieve complete energy independence. Ultimately, we aim to turn Turkey into a resource and technology-exporting country,” Erdoğan stated.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS