TEHRAN Dec 06 (Shana)--Iran’s speaker of parliament has said that international sanctions would not hinder a gas pipeline project between Iran and its eastern gas-thirsty neighbor Pakistan.
“The issue of Iran’s gas transmission to Pakistan is tied to the issue of sanctions. I don’t think so because our gas is sold to Turkey and other countries under any circumstances,” Ali Larijani said in Pakistan.
He said that Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline would be in the interest of Pakistan because it would guarantee an energy future for them.

“I think that it’s an important project for both countries because it establishes sustainable security in the region, not to mention vested interests,” said Larijani.

The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages. The US has long been threatening Islamabad with economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the pipeline project.

According to the original agreement sealed between Iran and Pakistan, the first Iranian gas delivery to Pakistan should start by December 31, 2014.

Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed.

By SHANA

 

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