Media Wire

Pakistan says US sanctions ‘may not apply’ to gas pipeline project with Iran

Pakistan’s caretaker energy minister has stated Washington’s anti-Tehran sanctions, imposed over its nuclear program, may not apply to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline as Islamabad was going to start work on the project within its territory and connect to the neighboring country.

“I don’t think that the US sanctions can apply to the IP project at this stage,” Muhammad Ali responded to a question during a news conference in the Pakistani capital.

When asked about US’s anti-Iran sanctions, the interim minister replied that he was unaware of what the Americans wanted in connection with the IP gas pipeline project.

Meanwhile, he said work on 80 kilometers of the pipeline in the Pakistani territory would be carried out, adding that it would take around 1.5 years to complete the pipeline project in the Pakistani territory.

“It will take time to connect it with the Iranian side for the supply of gas,” he added.

The remarks come as Islamabad has given the green light for advancing much-delayed work on gas pipelines within its territory.

Analysts say the project will improve Pakistan’s energy security and support regional industries by providing stable and enhanced gas supplies.

“We should make it a trade border, not an international border, and Pakistan and Iran should actually enhance their trade. And there is so much of informal trade which is going on between both countries. It has to be formalized and increased and to truly go in the national interest and benefit of both nations,” stated Reza Muhammad, president of Islamabad Policy Research Institute.

Iran has extended the project deadline by 180 days until September 2024 so as to avoid a legal dispute with Pakistan at international tribunals.

The project, launched in 2013, required Pakistan to finish the construction of the pipeline on its territory by the end of 2014.

But the work stalled, upsetting Tehran, which has said it already invested $2 billion in the pipeline on its side of the border.

Washington has opposed the pipeline, saying it could violate the illegal sanctions imposed on Tehran.

Pakistan will likely face an 18-billion-dollar fine if it terminates the gas pipeline agreement.

Experts say that Pakistan’s decision to kick off work on the gas pipeline project in its territory comes due to fear of a potential penalty for failing to complete the project.

IFP Media Wire

Reports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.

Recent Posts

Israel violates cease-fire in Lebanon, killing 2 people

Two people were killed and another was injured in an Israeli air attack near a…

1 second ago

UN General Assembly seeking ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations in occupied Palestinian territory

The United Nations General Assembly has formally requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to…

31 minutes ago

Vank Church, Jolfa district in Iran’s Isfahan decorated for New Year

As the New Year 2025 approaches, Vank Church and the Jolfa district in Iran’s central…

34 minutes ago

Kremlin says several countries to become BRICS partners next year

Nine countries will officially join BRICS as partner states in 2025, Russian presidential aide Yuri…

1 hour ago

WHO warns Yemen bears ‘highest burden’ of cholera worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that Yemen bears "the highest burden" of cholera…

1 hour ago

Hamas says fate of captives depends on Israeli military

The fate of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas depends on advances made by the…

2 hours ago