US targets Iran-Pakistan gas deal

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116170§ionid=351020103


Washington says it would help Islamabad secure liquefied natural gas supplies, should it abandon a planned gas deal with Iran.

Richard Holbrooke, Washington's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan made the offer during a meeting with Pakistan's Energy Minister Naveed Qamar in Islamabad, UPI reported on Thursday.

Last year, Iran and Pakistan agreed on a comprehensive deal on the long-stalled Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline.

Pakistan will receive 750 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from Iran through the pipeline, as part of the 25-year deal.

The attempt to prevent the launch of the IPI gas pipeline is part of Washington's efforts to put economic pressure on Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program — a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.

Iran says its nuclear program is solely aimed at the peaceful application of the technology.