Sanctions on Iran pipeline project still there, says US

[Shotgunner51]

Sanctions on Iran pipeline project still there, says US
THE NEWSPAPER'S CORRESPONDENT— UPDATED about an hour ago

WASHINGTON: The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project will not yet benefit from the nuclear agreement that may ease economic sanctions on Tehran, says the US State Department.

On July 14, the United States and five other world powers signed a deal with Iran, which would end international economic sanctions on Tehran if it abandoned its nuclear weapons programme.

Tariq Fatemi, the prime minister’s special adviser on foreign affairs, told a think-tank in Washington last week that Pakistan welcomed the deal because it 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.

Take a look: Tehran nuclear deal revives hope for Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline

Asked to comment on Mr Fatemi’s statement, a State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the lifting of sanctions for commercial deals with Iran had not started yet.

“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,” he said. “When Iran meets its key nuclear steps and we get to implementation day, then there will be commensurate relief of nuclear-related sanctions.”

The US official said that he would not offer “specific opinion” on “various possible future economic relations or economic deals or whatever, business deals.”

But “should those conversations progress to any transactions or other activities that are still sanctionable prior to implementation day, then we’ll continue to fully implement and enforce our sanctions,” he added.

Replying to another question, Mr Toner said the United States had close counter-terrorism cooperation with India, and supported New Delhi’s demand for bringing those to justice who were responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of that attack and we want to see justice served, obviously, and we want to see the perpetrators brought to justice,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

Is this a P5+1 agreement? If so then Iran and Pakistan (maybe China as well) should focus on the construction work anyway it will take some time to compete the work, turn on the valve later.

If this is just unilateral interpretation from US, simply ignore that.

@2800

 

[FaujHistorian]

FYI India ran away not under US pressure but because they are smart people and do not want their energy supply lines to pass through an enemy country which was Pakistan. US was mere excuse not to upset Iran.

That was standard Indian line. Blame Pakistan for everything. It is sad to see a Pakistani poster buying that line hook line and sinker,

The reality is that blaming Pakistan was just a ploy to hide the fact that Unkil Sam had put the huge bamboozle up Indian pipeline.

 

[Kaniska]

You know..if you start building your pipeline...it will take 4-5 years..By that time US Iran will be bhai bhai...So you can go ahead with your pipeline man...It is foolish for Pakistan to not tap the energy source in your border rather shipped it form hundreds mile away from you.

That was standard Indian line. Blame Pakistan for everything. It is sad to see a Pakistani poster buying that line hook line and sinker,

The reality is that blaming Pakistan was just a ploy to hide the fact that Unkil Sam had put the huge bamboozle up Indian pipeline.

Of course..US and India has a lot of trade and investment relationship...We would have a different descison if Iran would have been neighour..But it is too much of stake to go for if India accepts IP pipeline...One is we have to deal with Pakistan and then US pressure...So in a nutshell, it is not a worth to bussiness with so much of combined risk...If Pakistan is in problem, all the Gulf and Muslims nations will come to help you but for us, no one comes up man...So we have to take care of your own nation..

 

[RazorMC]

...
If Pakistan is in problem, all the Gulf and Muslims nations will come to help you but for us, no one comes up man...So we have to take care of your own nation..

Times have changed dramatically. Unless you were being sarcastic.

 

[FaujHistorian]

You know..if you start building your pipeline...it will take 4-5 years.

Nah. the time I believe is in the order of months.

Not 4-5 years.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

not surprised in the least. I was literally lol ing. Why is that?

 

[IceCold]

The reality is that blaming Pakistan was just a ploy to hide the fact that Unkil Sam had put the huge bamboozle up Indian pipeline.

Why was the Bamboozle only put up for the pipe line and not on Indians importing Iranian oil or investing in Chabahar port?

 

[FaujHistorian]

Why was the Bamboozle only put up for the pipe line and not on Indians importing Iranian oil or investing in Chabahar port?

those were underhand deals. Nothing international. 99% Indian banks do not and cannot do business with Iran.

Just check the facts. Only 1 bank is allowed and even it cannot send money directly.

Chahbahar port is most likely based on "barter trade". Such things cannot be stopped by existing international sanctions.

Heck that kind of trade goes on between Pakistan and Iran.

Peace

p.s. you are obviously have been hit by info-warrriors from Bharat,.

 

[Kaniska]

Times have changed dramatically. Unless you were being sarcastic.

I am not sarcastic dear friend..time has changed and the intensity of assistance may have been reduced but still then you have GCC and China is there for your assistance...But India does not have luxury of such friends...

 

[Spectre]

That was standard Indian line. Blame Pakistan for everything. It is sad to see a Pakistani poster buying that line hook line and sinker,

The reality is that blaming Pakistan was just a ploy to hide the fact that Unkil Sam had put the huge bamboozle up Indian pipeline.

It was kind of a pre-condition for Nuclear Deal, give up iran pipe line, vote for sanctions and in return get the nuke deal pushed through with power and influence of USA Govt on India's side.

Indian leadership caved in and accepted, history will show whether they made a good decision or bad.

 

[Kaniska]

those were underhand deals. Nothing international. 99% Indian banks do not and cannot do business with Iran.

Just check the facts. Only 1 bank is allowed and even it cannot send money directly.

Chahbahar port is most likely based on "barter trade". Such things cannot be stopped by existing international sanctions.

Heck that kind of trade goes on between Pakistan and Iran.

Peace

p.s. you are obviously have been hit by info-warrriors from Bharat,.

If you talk in practical sense...Chabar will be primarily used for trade with Iran and to some extent Afganistan depending on how peaceful Afganistan will be in next 15 year...Otherwise..i have to yet find out any meaningful utility of Chabar port apart from regular photo op from India and Iran side..

 

[That Guy]

I would say this approach is totally discriminatory.Western nations and other major nations are already started business relations with Iran .Pakistan is an energy starved nation .I dont think this pipeline suddenly violated P5+1 norms and procedure .Allowing their allies and banning Pakistan from business is stupidity at least
Pakistan should move forward with these project.
@WAJsal @waz @That Guy @Slav Defence and others

They haven't started business, they've just started talks so when sanctions drop, they can begin right away. An Iranian delegation is set to arrive in Pakistan to discuss the framework for an FTA, and how long the Pakistani side of the pipeline will take to complete, once sanctions are lifted.

Everyone is just talking right now, at least from what I can tell.

 

[FaujHistorian]

If you talk in practical sense...Chabar will be primarily used for trade with Iran and to some extent Afganistan depending on how peaceful Afganistan will be in next 15 year...Otherwise..i have to yet find out any meaningful utility of Chabar port apart from regular photo op from India and Iran side..

Well said bhai jaan

BTW chahbahar may not be that useful for trade with Iran.

Please see where most of Iranian population is and their road and rail network is. Perhaps Bunder Abbas or some other port is much more useful. Just saying. I have not done detailed study on Iranin port usage.

peace

 

[Super Falcon]

These US double standards is what makes people hate them we are not sending nukes through pipelines project is to benefit common people why usa not sanction russia EU gas pipeline whom us always oppose

 

[FaujHistorian]

Agreed.But that is mainly due to the faulty foreign policy of your leaders during 70s and 80s.

Speaking like a true Bharati nationalist. hahahah

Why not say that Pakistan's foreign policy was flawed since 1947.

Heck why not call Pakistan's very concept as "flawed".

you are a good poster Sir Nair, but sometimes!

These US double standards is what makes people hate them we are not sending nukes through pipelines project is to benefit common people why usa not sanction russia EU gas pipeline whom us always oppose

Comparing Russia and Iran?

Hmmm!

Not sure what to say here.