Iran, Pakistan to Restart Talks Over Gas Pipeline

Pakistan and Iran are expected to restart negotiations over Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline in Tehran next week, according to the Express Tribune.

The newspaper reports that Pakistan is likely to press Iran to waive penalty for delay, cut gas price and revise construction contract.

This will be first interaction between Pakistan and Iran on the IP pipeline since change of governments in the two countries in mid-2013.

“The government wants to renegotiate the agreed gas price and the construction contract during the visit of petroleum minister to Iran,” a source told Express Tribune, adding that Pakistani officials were making the trip on an invitation from Tehran.

However, the US is still opposed to the pipeline project, despite the recent Iran deal.

In a bid to placate US concerns, Pakistan is mulling over seeking an undertaking from Iran that proceeds of the gas pipeline would not be spent on nuclear proliferation activities, reports Express Tribune.

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