AKIPRESS.COM - The Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan said the country halted natural gas supplies to Iran since January 1, 2017, over the gas debt of the National Gas Company of Iran since 2013.

The gas supply was stopped after several official notifications about the gas debt were sent, the Foreign Ministry's press service said.

“Throughout 2016, the Iranian side was officially informed several times about the gas supply situation and possible restriction of Turkmen natural gas supply. However, absence of positive reaction, failure to look for mutually acceptable solutions led to stop of Turkmen natural gas supply to Iran,” the press service stated.

The TurkmenGas State Concern operates on the basis of self-sustainability, for this reason Iran's gas debt could lead to technical stop of gas wells, compressor stations, treatment plants.

The National Iranian Gas Company said earlier Turkmenistan halted gas supplies since January 1, one day after the countries agreed to continue gas supply cooperation in the next 5 years.

The Iranian Gas Company said the Turkmen gas concern halted gas supplies despite reached agreements and demanded immediate repayment of the gas debt. The company called it “violation” of the agreement by Turkmen authorities. The company added two countries are holding consultations concerning repayment of gas debt to Turkmenistan.

Iran is buying Turkmen gas for its northern regions since 1997. The present export of gas makes 10 billions cubic meters of gas. Turkmenistan is the third biggest trade partner of Iran after China and Turkey.

In December Iran said Turkmen authorities threatened to halt gas supplies over the gas debt that reached $1.8 billion. The official representative of Iran said in case Turkmenistan has any gas debt claims, it should apply to the international court.