Peace Pipeline Not to Benefit from Nuclear Agreement yet: US Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An American official said that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project will not benefit from the conclusion of nuclear talks yet as sanctions for commercial deals are still in place.
US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, also known as Peace Pipeline or IP Gas Pipeline, will not yet benefit from the nuclear agreement.
“We don’t consider Iran open for business yet, and there’s no new sanctions relief beyond the very limited relief under the joint plan of action that’s been in place since January 2014,” Daily Times quoted Toner as saying.
Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement for the construction of the gas pipeline in 1995.
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.
Toner made the remarks in response to Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi who had earlier said that his country welcomes the Iran nuclear breakthrough for further business deals.
“It (conclusion of Iran nuclear talks) would open the doors for economic cooperation with Iran, including the construction of a pipeline to bring natural gas for the energy-starved South Asian nation,” Fatemi said.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.
The promising prospect of trade with Iran has prompted major European countries to explore the market potential in the populous Middle East nation.
