Iranian Natgas Pipeline to Pakistan to be Completed Next Year

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Tuesday denied any links with an alleged terrorist plot that Canadian authorities claim was directed by al-Qaida operatives in Iran and sought to derail a passenger train. Canadian authorities allege the suspects Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, had “direction and guidance” from al-Qaida members in Iran, though there were no claims the planned attacks were state-sponsored by Tehran. Esseghaier is believed to be Tunisian and Jaser from the United Arab Emirates.

ISLAMABAD — Gunmen attacked an election rally in Pakistan’s southern Punjab province on Thursday and abducted the son of a former prime minister, intensifying what has already been a violent run-up to Saturday’s nationwide elections. Ali Haider Gilani, the son of ex-premier Yousuf Raza Gilani from the Pakistan People’s Party, is running for a provincial assembly seat in the district of Multan.

Providing more evidence of the warming ties between Iran and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the Times of London reports that the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Suleimani, made a secret two-day visit to Egypt just after Christmas to meet with officials close to President Mohammed Morsi.

Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri told an Iranian news agency that his nation has already prepared the necessary infrastructure to begin natural gas exports to Pakistan, adding that Tehran is currently waiting for Pakistan side to complete the necessary similar infrastructure for importing 110 million cubic meters of per day of Iranian natural gas.

Pakistan had applied to Iran for a six-month wavier in beginning a bilateral natural gas pipeline project in order to avoid a $200 million penalty fee. The $3 billion Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline project, which earlier was scheduled to begin operations by 31 December 2014, will now be delayed until June 2015, Islamabad’s The News Online reported.

US Vice President Joe Biden on Friday warned Iran that opportunities for diplomacy over its disputed nuclear programme were not unlimited but offered direct talks between Washington and Tehran. In an interview with the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, Biden said the "burden of proof" that Iran was not seeking a nuclear weapon lay with the authorities in Tehran.