Relationship dossier
Iran
Turkmenistan
Relationship assessment
Energy cooperation tempered by gas-payment disputes
Iran toward Turkmenistan
+20Iran has cooperated with Turkmenistan through cross-border gas infrastructure and imports of Turkmen gas, including supplies through the Korpeje–Kurt Kui pipeline, opened in 1997, and the Dauletabad–Sarakhs–Khangiran pipeline, opened in 2010. Disputes over payments for gas supplies have complicated this cooperation.
Turkmenistan toward Iran
+15Turkmenistan has supplied natural gas to Iran through cross-border pipelines. In January 2017, it halted supplies amid a dispute over unpaid bills; the governments later agreed to resolve the dispute, allowing energy cooperation to continue.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship is structured around durable cross-border energy infrastructure and gas trade, alongside recurring payment disputes that have at times interrupted supplies. This combination supports a generally cooperative but commercially contested bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Iran and Turkmenistan have maintained practical cooperation, particularly through cross-border natural-gas pipelines and energy trade. Their relationship has also faced significant friction over gas-payment disputes: Turkmenistan suspended supplies to Iran in 2017, and the two governments later reached an agreement to resolve the dispute. Energy cooperation has been durable, but recurring commercial tensions temper the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Disputes over payment for Turkmen gas supplies, including the interruption of supplies in 2017.
Key developments
The Korpeje–Kurt Kui pipeline began operating, enabling Turkmen gas exports to Iran.
The Dauletabad–Sarakhs–Khangiran pipeline opened, expanding gas supply capacity between the countries.
Turkmenistan halted gas supplies to Iran amid a dispute over unpaid bills.
The governments reached an agreement to resolve the gas-payment dispute.
Major uncertainties
- The full scope and implementation of bilateral energy and transport arrangements are unclear.
- The extent of cooperation beyond energy trade is uncertain.