Washington: The News claimed on Wednesday that the US has stated that it opposes the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project and has threatened to impose penalties on Islamabad for doing business with Tehran.
Spokesman for the State Department Matthew Miller stated, “We always advise everyone that doing business with Iran runs the risk of touching upon and coming in contact with our sanctions, and would advise everyone to consider that very carefully.”
Regarding remarks made by Assistant Secretary Donald Lu indicating that the United States opposed Pakistan initiating the pipeline project with Iran, Miller responded, “We do not support this pipeline going forward.”
Following remarks made by Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik that his country has chosen to visit the United States to request a waiver on the gas pipeline project.
On Monday, he declared, “Pakistan will present its case vigorously and will try to seek exemption from US sanctions by presenting technical and political arguments.”
According to Malik, the nation will soon begin building the gas pipeline project.
Since 2014, there have been delays in the project. Iran notified Pakistan for the third time in January that it will take the matter to arbitration over the pipeline’s non-installation as part of the IP gas line project.
