Iran’s gas pipeline to Iraq has seen a physical progress of 40 percent and will be extended to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by the Ten-Day Dawn of the next Iranian year (February 1-11, 2013), said oil minister on Saturday.

 

 

On gas transfer to Iraq and then Syria and Mediterranean states, Rostam Qasemi said a trilateral committee has been formed in this regard and the technical talks were also held, IRNA reported.

A trilateral meeting is also to be held among the oil ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria, he said.

The minister stated that the pipeline laying operations of the project began about six months ago and according to the contract the pipeline was slated to be extended to Baghdad in 18 months.

Commenting on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, he said currently the pipeline has been laid to Iranshahr, Sistan-Baluchestan province and is being extended towards Chabahar and then Pakistan.

Qasemi added the project is scheduled to be completed by 2014 and it is ahead of schedule.

 Oil Stoppage
Qasemi further noted, “We are not like European states, we do not want to put pressure on the people of the European countries by stopping oil supply in the winter.
“Iran is not after creating tension in the region and is interested in the establishment of stability in the entire region.”
He said the West is well aware of the fact that Iran was facing very difficult conditions in oil production and exports during 1980-88 war with Iraq but managed to overcome them.
Condemning sanctions against Iran’s oil exports, he said many countries have very good trade ties with Iran.
He further said that countries such as China, South Korea and India are very unlikely to join the US and Europe in oil sanctions against Iran.
Earlier, Qasemi said the country’s oil has been sold four months in advance and the Islamic Republic will face no problems even if European sanctions are imposed.
“I think it is unlikely that global oil markets would ignore Iran’s oil because this would create problems for them.” he said.

 Privatization
Regarding the private sector, he said it is expected to play a more significant role in the budget planned for the next Iranian year (to start March 20).
Currently, some of the refineries have been handed over to the private sector, he said, hoping the rest will be ceded to the sector in near future.