Posted on 12/11/2005 9:31:46 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Iran and Russia plan to work together to build a pipeline transporting Iranian natural gas to Pakistan and India.
Hamid Reza Asefi, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said the country has agreed to Russia's participation in the project to construct the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, Novosti reported.
"Russia is a powerful state with advanced technologies," said Asefi.
Last month, Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said Russian energy giant Gazprom was prepared to take on a share of the project risk.
The estimated cost of the 1,550 mile pipeline is $4.5 billion.
NEW DELHI, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- India denied assuring the United States its energy deals with Iran were only hypothetical and years away.
The Hindu newspaper said Thursday Indian Foreign Secretary Shayam Saran said his government had not provided any such assurances.
"I do not know who it is who is supposed to have assured him, because it certainly was not us," Saran said.
"On the contrary, there is a Liquefied Natural Gas deal that is very much on the cards, though the Iranians have not signed the final documents," he said.
Saran said New Delhi has told Washington that Iran, too, is India's strategic partner, that apart from historic ties, there is also the energy relationship. Saran said the India-Iran gas pipeline would go through if it was found to be financially viable. U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said the Indians had assured the United States there is no plan on the table that is ready for a decision; that any plans, any discussions, have been hypothetical and are years away.
"Political considerations will not matter. The economics of the project have to justify it," Saran said.
On Russia's interest in the pipeline, Saran said the matter would be considered along with all other relevant issues. He said a feasibility study had been conducted and India was interested in the pipeline proposal because it is very short of hydrocarbons.
"We need supplies, so if this proposal materializes, it is for the better," Saran said.
On Russia's interest in joining the project, he said, "It helps if more countries come on board. Russia is the second largest producer of hydrocarbons, so it does help."
I've never trusted Putin.
Am I the only one concerned about this Russia-Iran cooperation?
blood for gas
Add China to it as well. There is an Iran-Russia/CIS-China-N.Korea axis forming.
What is even sadder is that India is warming up to China.
Remember that Iran has observer status in the Shanghai Cooperative Organization. Also, North Korea and Vietnam may be admitted as observer countries soon.
Halliburton will probably fund the entire mission and then win the reconstruction job.
"Am I the only one concerned about this Russia-Iran cooperation?"
No, but there aren't enough of us.
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