Pakistan and Iran break ground on gas pipeline opposed by US
- 11 years ago
The presidents of Iran and Pakistan mark the start of construction on a much-delayed gas pipeline, despite U.S. pressure on Islamabad to back out of the project.
The US has steadfastly opposed Pakistani and Indian involvement in the project, saying it could violate sanctions imposed on Iran.
It's called the "peace pipeline". The $7 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran's gas field to India via Pakistan.
India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says no one has anything to fear from the pipeline.
(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, SAYING:
"Those foreign elements who are against the progress of the region, use the excuse of our nuclear program to hinder the progress of Iran. I want to tell those people that the gas pipeline has no connection whatsoever with the nucl
The US has steadfastly opposed Pakistani and Indian involvement in the project, saying it could violate sanctions imposed on Iran.
It's called the "peace pipeline". The $7 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran's gas field to India via Pakistan.
India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says no one has anything to fear from the pipeline.
(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, SAYING:
"Those foreign elements who are against the progress of the region, use the excuse of our nuclear program to hinder the progress of Iran. I want to tell those people that the gas pipeline has no connection whatsoever with the nucl