Press TV: Iran Backs Pipeline to China under ‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative

Iran says it has ambitious plans to extend its energy delivery network to China under Beijing's massive "One Belt, One Road" push to boost regional connectivity.

This has been announced by Iran’s Ambassador to China Ali Asghar Khaji. 

Khaji said Iran would expand its railways, roads, ports, telecoms sector and energy security under a five-year development plan. "Setting up an extended network of energy pipelines would help regional security and development," he told China’s media.  

Iran has already built a natural gas pipeline to its border with Pakistan, which has so far balked at constructing a link on its side amid threats of sanctions from Washington.

But Pakistan is now seeking Chinese funding to build its portion.  The country signed a basic agreement with China last Monday to construct a pipeline from the southern port of Gwadar to Nawab Shah District in the southwest of Pakistan.  Islamabad says the pipeline will be extended to the border with Iran after the US engineered sanctions against Iran are lifted. MORE