'We're going to disrupt': US warns Pakistan of sanctions over Iran ties

NEW DELHI: In a stark warning from Washington, the US has cautioned Pakistan about the potential risks of sanctions after recent agreements signed with Iran , particularly amid President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Islamabad. The US State Department highlighted concerns about proliferation networks and weapons of mass destruction as Islamabad looks to deepen its security and economic ties with Tehran.

Sanctions and warnings

US state department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized the risks associated with engaging in business with Iran. "We're going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur...Just let me say, broadly, we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits," Patel said during a press briefing. This statement follows recent US sanctions imposed on entities from China and Belarus accused of supporting Pakistan's ballistic missile program.

Pakistan-Iran bilateral agreements

Pakistan is seeking to restart a longstanding project to construct a gas pipeline from Iran, a project that has been repeatedly postponed due to potential US sanctions. In a congressional hearing last month, assistant secretary of state Donald Lu affirmed that "the Biden administration will uphold all sanctions related to Iran" when queried about the Pakistan-Iran pipeline.

Despite intentions to apply for a sanctions waiver regarding the pipeline, it was not discussed during President Raisi's recent visit to Pakistan.

During President Raisi's visit, Pakistan and Iran inked eight bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing political, economic, trade, and cultural ties. These accords included cooperation in sectors such as veterinary and animal health, judicial support in civil cases, and security matters. The visit is the first by an Iranian president to Islamabad in eight years.

Geopolitical implications

The recent developments have raised eyebrows in international circles. Shaista Tabassum, a professor at the University of Karachi, told Bloomberg: "The US will certainly not like Pakistan and Iran to come closer."

The agreements signed and the discussions around increasing bilateral trade to about $10 billion in the next three to four years underscore the strategic importance of the relationship between the two nations.

However, Pakistan and Iran have had a history of rocky relations despite a number of commercial pacts, with Islamabad being historically closer to Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Their highest-profile agreement is a stalled gas supply deal signed in 2010 to build a pipeline from Iran's South Fars gas field to Pakistan's southern provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.

Despite Pakistan's dire need of gas, Islamabad has yet to begin construction of its part of the pipeline, citing fears over US sanctions.

(With inputs from agencies)