Pakistan risks US, UN sanctions over Iran gas deal, says US Media

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WASHINGTON: The United States may impose economic sanctions on Pakistan as the latter plans to import Iranian gas to meet its increasing energy without giving much importance to US reservations.

Washington and UN would impose stringent sanctions on Islamabad if it goes ahead with the project, Wall Street Journal said in a report.

“Washington has made it clear that it will impose economic sanctions on Islamabad if it begins to buy gas from Iran. Besides, the UN mandated sanctions on any trade with the oil-rich country,” the newspaper said.

The report comes when Islamabad has entered an agreement with an Iranian company to build its side of pipe line to materialize its plan to import gas.

In a written reply to The Wall Street Journal, the US embassy in Islamabad reiterated the US position and said: “Our policy on Iran is well known.  We have made it clear to all of our interlocutors around the world that it is in their interests to avoid activities that may be prohibited by United Nations sanctions or sanctionable under US law.”

Pakistan has consistently been asked to import gas from Turkmenistan as an alternate to meet its energy needs instead of relying on Iran, the newspaper said.

The US has long been accusing Iran of building nuclear weapons, the claim which Tehran denies and says it is its legal right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purpose.

Read a related research article about IPI Gas line to click this link 

DND