AiBotISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan has received Iran’s response to the United States’ contentious proposal regarding the Iran-US gas pipeline project, and Pakistani officials have now forwarded the response to Washington, as reported by a high-ranking official.
The development is crucial as it indicates a potential breakthrough in the long-stalled project that has witnessed opposition from the US due to its concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project aims to transport Iranian natural gas to Pakistan, with a potential future extension to India.
“We’ve received the Iranian response and have passed it on to the US for its consideration,” said the Pakistani official, requesting anonymity, as he wasn’t authorized to make public comments.
The proposal from Iran is not immediately clear, but experts say that Tehran might have made concessions to accommodate the US concerns, a condition to facilitate US backing for the project. “Pakistan’s position has been that of a facilitator in negotiations with Iran and the US, and any agreement would have to ensure benefits for all parties involved,” the official said.
The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is an approximately 1,700 km long gas pipeline project, estimated to transport 21.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Iran to Pakistan. The project aims to strengthen economic ties between the two neighboring countries and reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported fuels, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The Pakistan’s government has been keen to see the project progress as it would significantly enhance the country’s energy security. The project has been stalled due to the US opposition citing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
However, the US has softened its stance on Iran since the re-entry into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last year, which lifted some of the international sanctions against Tehran. The change in Washington’s policy has opened up possibilities for Iran to re-engage with countries, including US allies like Pakistan.
Pakistan, a close US ally, had previously sought to distance itself from Washington’s stance, but it has now emerged as a mediator in the deal. The development has raised hopes that the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project may soon move forward.