Iran has possible role in Nabucco
UPI
21-Jul-2009 (one comment)

ANKARA, Turkey, July 21 (UPI) -- The consortium governing the Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe suggests language in an intergovernmental agreement leaves room for Iran as a potential supplier.

Ankara welcomed regional and international supporters last week to the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on the $10.3 billion Nabucco gas pipeline.

Nabucco is seen as the foundation to European efforts to diversify an energy sector dependent on Russian natural gas.

Despite political support for Nabucco, the project lacks financial backing and firm commitments from supplier nations.

Iran, however, was not specifically included in the provisions of the Ankara agreement in order to win the explicit backing of Washington. But the language of provisions in the Ankara agreement was crafted in such a way that Iran may still play a role, Turkish daily Today's Zaman reports.

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Ostaad

Possible but, when?

by Ostaad on Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:15 PM PDT

Of course the Turks know very well there may not be enough gas to make the pipeline economically feasible without Iran's gas supplies brought into the system. But still due to political issues the US is playing hardball.

Here's what the US is saying about Iran's participation in Nabucco:

Iran's participation is questionable because of its ongoing conflict with Washington. United States Special Envoy Richard Morningstar said yesterday that I don't think there would be an agreement at this point
among the Nabucco consortium for Iranian participation at this
time...Our European allies, I think, are in sync with this
position...This would be the absolute worst time to encourage Iran to
participate in a project in Nabucco when we've received absolutely
nothing in return.

Source: //www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/07/...

Sanctions against Iran must be either lifted or broken, period.

 


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