live Trump says U.S. could strike Iran ‘hard’ as Tehran warns of economic fallout- Middle East conflict
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Türkiye will provide 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year to Syria under a new bilateral agreement aimed at jumpstarting Syria’s war-ravaged energy sector,Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced Thursday during a joint press conference in Damascus with his Syrian counterpart.
The deal marks a major step in the normalization of relations between Ankara and Damascus following the end of Syria’s 13-year civil war, which concluded this month with the ousting of longtime President Bashar al-Assad. Türkiye, a former backer of rebel forces during the conflict, is now positioning itself as a key partner in Syria’s reconstruction.
Bayraktar said the gas supplied from Türkiye will enable Syria to generate an additional 1,300 megawatts of electricity, significantly boosting the country’s power capacity. As part of the short-term plan, Türkiye will also provide 1,000 megawatts of electricity directly to help stabilize Syria’s battered grid.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir confirmed that both sides had agreed to reactivate a cross-border gas pipeline, with flows expected to begin as early as June. "This will significantly boost electricity generation, which will positively impact the Syrian people’s electricity needs," he stated.
The agreement also outlines the completion of a 400-kilovolt transmission line connecting the two nations, expected to be operational by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. The line will enable the import of up to 500 megawatts of electricity from Türkiye into Syria.
Beyond gas and electricity, the cooperation framework includes opening Syria to Turkish investment in key sectors such as mining, phosphate extraction, electricity generation, and power distribution. Bayraktar noted that Türkiye is also involved in “intensive work” to explore new oil and gas reserves, both onshore and offshore in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The comprehensive energy deal not only aims to alleviate Syria’s severe power shortages but also signals growing Turkish influence in the post-war economic and geopolitical landscape of the region. Analysts say the partnership could serve as a model for broader regional cooperation in Syria’s long path toward recovery.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
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