ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — A new agreement has been reached that will allow Turkmenistan to export natural gas to Turkey through Iran, according to an official government newspaper released on Tuesday.

The publication, Neutral Tyrkmenistan, reported that Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who leads the country’s People’s Council, spoke positively about the agreement during a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Berdymukhamedov highlighted the deal as a significant milestone for regional energy collaboration.

The supplies of gas outlined in this contract, established between Turkmengas—a state-owned company in Turkmenistan—and BOTAS, Turkey’s state-operated gas firm, are set to commence on March 1.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar expressed that this agreement, which had been in negotiation for several years, would enhance the security of natural gas supplies for both Turkmenistan and the broader region, in addition to bolstering strategic ties between the two nations.

Turkey currently imports natural gas through pipelines originating from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.

In the previous year, Turkmenistan engaged in a contract with Iran to supply 10 billion cubic meters (equivalent to 353 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, which is intended to be further transported to Iraq.

The Central Asian nation, which was once part of the Soviet Union, heavily depends on its extensive natural gas resources for export revenue. China remains the primary consumer of Turkmen gas, and the country is also developing a pipeline aimed at supplying natural gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.