ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Mohsen Paknejad on Wednesday announced that Turkey has begun importing gas from Turkmenistan via Iran.

“This step will have a significant impact on Iran's mutual relations, especially in the field of gas and other petroleum products trade,” Paknejad told the Iran-based Petroenergy Information Network (Shana) on Wednesday. 

He added that the move would help position Iran as “a regional energy hub,” while detailing that the project has been finalized and that the flow of gas has begun. 

Under the deal, Turkey will import 1.3 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan by the end of the year, starting March 1.

The deal comes only a day after Iran slammed remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said that Tehran risks plunging the Middle East into “disorder” in an interview with Al Jazeera in February.

Iran leads the so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Hamas in the Palestinian territories, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and armed groups in Iraq. 

Fidan had said, “If this policy continues, I don't think it will be good,” accusing Iran of seeking to “create disorder” in the region.

Iran’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Heydari on Tuesday warned against “false statements and unrealistic analysis that could lead to differences and tensions” in a meeting with Turkey's ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kirlangic.

The deal also coincides with rising tensions between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear power. 

US President Donald Trump earlier in February signed a memorandum restoring his “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, which entails a series of strenuous sanctions on Tehran, while also detailing a set of new economic measures against the country.

Trump has also vowed to cut Iran’s gas exports to zero, in addition to revoking an exemption for Iraq to import gas from Tehran to power its electricity.