Washington, a day after Pakistan and Iran signed several agreements during Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi's maiden visit to Islamabad to boost bilateral cooperation, the US has issued a warning to anyone considering a trade deal with Iran. Warned of "potential risk of sanctions".
The latest warning comes days after the US imposed sanctions on suppliers of Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, including three Chinese companies, while the US also said it maintains good relations with Pakistan and considers it a "regional partner". It describes itself as "an important security partner" in the United States.
During Raisi's three-day visit that concluded on Wednesday, Iran and Pakistan signed eight memorandums of understanding, vowing to increase trade to US$10 billion in the coming years. Raisi met US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel. He was asked about the agreements signed during the visit and the Pakistan government spokesperson's claim that it does not need exemption from US sanctions to build its part of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.
“Let me say broadly… We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions.But ultimately, the Pakistan government can talk about its foreign policy objectives,” Pate told the briefing on Tuesday.
According to Iranwire.com, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press conference on March 21: “This is a section of the pipeline that is being built inside Pakistani territory. Therefore, we do not believe that there is scope for any discussion or relaxation from any third party on this point. However, on March 25, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadiq Malik said that the government is considering the billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP ) will seek exemption from US sanctions for the gas pipeline project and decided to be “vigorous”.
“We will seek exemption from US sanctions.Pakistan cannot tolerate sanctions on the gas pipeline project," he said a few days after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Trump told a Congressional hearing that Pakistan has now Till date, no exemption has been sought for the 1,150 km long gas pipeline.
The proposed 2,775 km long pipeline plans to connect Pakistan's energy supply directly to Iran's abundant gas reserves. However, the project has faced significant delays due to geopolitical pressure on Iran, sanctions, and financial constraints within Pakistan. .
In February this year, the caretaker government in Pakistan approved the construction of the first phase or 80-kilometre (out of a total 780-kilometre pipeline) from the Iranian border to Gwadar i Balochistan, Don, leaving the 2009 agreement in the dust. The newspaper reported last week.Meanwhile, Tehran has issued a deadline: finish the pipeline segment by March 2024 or face financial consequences worth about USD 18 billion – a case that could prompt international arbitration, the report said. According to Tehran-based information network Shana, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Ovji said Pakistan is willing to fulfill its obligations in completing part of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Speaking on the sidelines of Raisi's visit, Owji said the Pakistani side is ready to see the injection of gas into the pipeline and for this reason Islamabad is preparing contracts with various companies to expedite the process.
Earlier last week, the US had imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and other companies from Belarus for supplying missile-applied items to Pakistan's ballistic missile programmes, including its long-range missile programme. China, Pakistan's all-time ally, It has been the main supplier of arms and defense equipment to Islamabad's ambitious military modernization programme.When asked about the real reasons for these US sanctions, Patel said, “Sanctions were imposed because these were entities that were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These were entities based in the PRC in Belarus, and we have seen that they supplied equipment and other applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program.
“They are following our October 23 designation of the other three PRC entities that have worked to supply Pakistan's missile program. We will continue to disrupt and take action against proliferation networks and weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur,'' Pate said. Meanwhile, in a separate news conference, when Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder was asked how US sanctions against the four companies would affect US-Pakistan military-to-military relations, and first said he had no information to give.He.
But he quickly added: “Obviously, as you know, we maintain good relations with Pakistan. They are an important security partner in the region. And so, you know, we'll again continue to have those conversations and make sure that we can.
In Pakistan, The News International said, "The State Department's statement comes at a significant juncture in Pakistan's history as it seeks to advance 'brotherly relations' with Iran by welcoming its president back months after cross-border clashes in January. Works for."It said, "This statement is important because of Iran's position globally, its regional activities and the recent clashes with Israel following the attack on its embassy in Damascus, in which two senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. Members were murdered."
The latest warning comes days after the US imposed sanctions on suppliers of Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, including three Chinese companies, while the US also said it maintains good relations with Pakistan and considers it a "regional partner". It describes itself as "an important security partner" in the United States.
During Raisi's three-day visit that concluded on Wednesday, Iran and Pakistan signed eight memorandums of understanding, vowing to increase trade to US$10 billion in the coming years. Raisi met US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel. He was asked about the agreements signed during the visit and the Pakistan government spokesperson's claim that it does not need exemption from US sanctions to build its part of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.
“Let me say broadly… We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions.But ultimately, the Pakistan government can talk about its foreign policy objectives,” Pate told the briefing on Tuesday.
According to Iranwire.com, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press conference on March 21: “This is a section of the pipeline that is being built inside Pakistani territory. Therefore, we do not believe that there is scope for any discussion or relaxation from any third party on this point. However, on March 25, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadiq Malik said that the government is considering the billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP ) will seek exemption from US sanctions for the gas pipeline project and decided to be “vigorous”.
“We will seek exemption from US sanctions.Pakistan cannot tolerate sanctions on the gas pipeline project," he said a few days after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Trump told a Congressional hearing that Pakistan has now Till date, no exemption has been sought for the 1,150 km long gas pipeline.
The proposed 2,775 km long pipeline plans to connect Pakistan's energy supply directly to Iran's abundant gas reserves. However, the project has faced significant delays due to geopolitical pressure on Iran, sanctions, and financial constraints within Pakistan. .
In February this year, the caretaker government in Pakistan approved the construction of the first phase or 80-kilometre (out of a total 780-kilometre pipeline) from the Iranian border to Gwadar i Balochistan, Don, leaving the 2009 agreement in the dust. The newspaper reported last week.Meanwhile, Tehran has issued a deadline: finish the pipeline segment by March 2024 or face financial consequences worth about USD 18 billion – a case that could prompt international arbitration, the report said. According to Tehran-based information network Shana, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Ovji said Pakistan is willing to fulfill its obligations in completing part of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Speaking on the sidelines of Raisi's visit, Owji said the Pakistani side is ready to see the injection of gas into the pipeline and for this reason Islamabad is preparing contracts with various companies to expedite the process.
Earlier last week, the US had imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and other companies from Belarus for supplying missile-applied items to Pakistan's ballistic missile programmes, including its long-range missile programme. China, Pakistan's all-time ally, It has been the main supplier of arms and defense equipment to Islamabad's ambitious military modernization programme.When asked about the real reasons for these US sanctions, Patel said, “Sanctions were imposed because these were entities that were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These were entities based in the PRC in Belarus, and we have seen that they supplied equipment and other applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program.
“They are following our October 23 designation of the other three PRC entities that have worked to supply Pakistan's missile program. We will continue to disrupt and take action against proliferation networks and weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur,'' Pate said. Meanwhile, in a separate news conference, when Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder was asked how US sanctions against the four companies would affect US-Pakistan military-to-military relations, and first said he had no information to give.He.
But he quickly added: “Obviously, as you know, we maintain good relations with Pakistan. They are an important security partner in the region. And so, you know, we'll again continue to have those conversations and make sure that we can.
In Pakistan, The News International said, "The State Department's statement comes at a significant juncture in Pakistan's history as it seeks to advance 'brotherly relations' with Iran by welcoming its president back months after cross-border clashes in January. Works for."It said, "This statement is important because of Iran's position globally, its regional activities and the recent clashes with Israel following the attack on its embassy in Damascus, in which two senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. Members were murdered."
