The U.S. is threatening Pakistan with sanctions if it goes ahead with a multi-billion dollar pipeline deal with Iran, the International Business Times is reporting.
Hours after the inauguration of the final phase of the Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline, the U.S. State Department said the project would force Washington to employ the Iran Sanctions Act.
"We have serious concerns if this project actually goes forward that the Iran Sanctions Act would be triggered," said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, the Business Times reported.
The Act allows Washington to impose a ban on any non-American firm if it invests more than $20 million in Iran's oil resources.
Nuland added: "We've been straight up with the Pakistanis about these concerns. And as I said at some length last week, we are also working very closely bilaterally to support alternative projects to provide Pakistan with the energy that it needs."
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