Iran (IMNA) - This long-term project has faced numerous challenges due to US sanctions on Iran for several years. Malik states that Pakistan will continue its communication with the American side regarding the sanctions waiver. He also highlights that countries like Iraq, Turkey, and the Republic of Azerbaijan have benefited from US sanctions exemptions, and Pakistan should be granted the same for the implementation of the Tehran-Islamabad gas pipeline project.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, expressed opposition to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project during a congressional hearing in Washington, warning of potential sanctions for Pakistan if they engage in business with Iran. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, asserts that the pipeline construction is within the country's territory, leaving no room for objections from third parties.
In February, Pakistan's Cabinet Committee on Energy granted approval to start construction on an 80-kilometer pipeline from the Pak-Iran border to Gwadar. The project, launched in 2013, faced delays due to international sanctions on Iran. Iran has already invested $2 billion in the pipeline on its side of the border, and Pakistan may face an $18-billion fine if they terminate the gas pipeline agreement.
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