Iran cut gas supplies to Turkey last Monday, despite having promised not to interrupt shipments again after a reduction in the gas flow last year due to another dip in temperatures.

This week, Iran said that, in addition to the extreme cold, supplies from Turkmenistan were short, Turkish media said.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that a representative of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered assurances that Iran would resume shipments this week.

'They said they would resolve the issue by Monday at the latest and resume giving us gas,' Mr Erdogan told reporters in comments broadcast on Turkish television.

State-run Turkish news agency Anatolia said Ahmadinejad called Erdogan later Thursday to reiterate Iran's promise to start pumping natural gas to Turkey.

The cut last year sparked debate over Turkey's need to reduce energy dependence on Russia and Iran, its two main suppliers. Turkey uses natural gas in industry and to heat homes.

After Russia, Iran is Turkey's second-largest supplier of natural gas, now providing around 20 million to 22 million cubic meters per day through a 2,580-km pipeline.

Turkey also imports some liquefied natural gas from Nigeria and Algeria. -- AP