Remarks by Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley on Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline and Iran Sanctions (Excerpts)

April 2, 2010

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear

Related Country: 

  • India
  • Pakistan

. . .

 

QUESTION: Yeah. Two weeks ago, Iran signed - Pakistan signed gas power plant deals with Iran. And now, India has said too that it's also resuming negotiations process with Iran to extend their gas pipeline to India. So at a time when President Obama is looking for imposing additional sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council, what's your response to that - India and Pakistan both working together to sign a (inaudible) gas pipeline deal with Iran?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, these are discussions that we're having with a range of countries. We obviously are earnestly engaged with a wide range of countries, particularly within the P-5+1, beginning to put together the specific elements of a potential sanctions resolution. And we will expect, depending on not only what is in that resolution, but other steps that countries will take going forward, that it becomes - the international community as a whole has to be united behind this effort and has to enforce whatever sanctions are put in place.

There are existing sanctions already in place, but we have expressed our concerns to a number of countries that have ongoing economic relations with Iran that now may not be the best time to pursue such projects.

QUESTION: But have you expressed this concern with Pakistan and India, in particular?

MR. CROWLEY: I'm not familiar with any particular project, but this is part of our ongoing dialogue with countries that we are looking to place pressure on Iran. And we are expecting everyone, particularly emerging powers, to play a significant role in this.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Just to follow up?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: P.J., thanks. First in the beginning it was India who was thinking of having a gas pipeline with Iran. But there was concerns in Washington and there were reports of visits, one in New Delhi or - with this. But now, after the U.S. gave billions of dollars to Pakistan, now Pakistan announced after getting the U.S. aid that they are going to go ahead with the Iranian - and at the same time, the U.S. had been - is working on President Obama sanctions against Iran. But one of your - I mean, greatest and biggest ally - when - what message do you get from somebody from, like, Pakistan?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, Goyal, let's disaggregate a little bit of that. First of all, we do not think in zero-sum terms when talking about developments in the region. And we do recognize that ultimately, we want to see the growth of legitimate trade that more fully integrates countries like Pakistan, countries like Afghanistan, others into a regional or a global trading system. That said, we have a broad-based dialogue with both India and Pakistan. Part of the dialogue in each country is to understand and help with the respective and legitimate energy needs that countries in the region have.
But we are also sending a very strong signal that - to a range of countries; not just in South Asia, throughout the world - to those countries that have economic relations with Iran or to those sectors of the global economy that do business with Iran, understand where this process is going, and understand that ultimately, the reputation of a company or the reputation of a country will - there will be ramifications here in terms of how this proceeds. We recognize, as we've said many times, Iran has rights, but Iran has responsibilities. And likewise, other countries that are responsible for strengthening and protecting and safeguarding the nonproliferation system around the world also have rights and responsibilities.

And now is the time to become united to put pressure on Iran, to take the appropriate steps so that we can send a clear message to Iran that there's a consequence for its clear failure to live up to its obligations. So this is not just a responsibility for the United States, it's just not a responsibility for the so-called P-5+1, there's a shared global responsibility here. And just to finish, this will be something that is central to the nuclear security summit that will be held here in Washington middle of next month, and clearly be central to --

QUESTION: This month.

MR. CROWLEY: Next month - no, this month. You're right. Thank you.

QUESTION: This month.

MR. CROWLEY: And central to the strengthening of the nonproliferation regime which will be undertaken next month at the UN.

QUESTION: Just a quick one.

MR. CROWLEY: Sure.

QUESTION: All this - what you're saying --

MR. CROWLEY: I think I won't set a record today.

QUESTION: (Laughter.) Thank you, 11th or 12th - 12th and 13th - 12th and 13th. All this what you said, P.J., also applies to Russia and China as far as sanctions and dealing with Iran --

MR. CROWLEY: Absolutely.

QUESTION: -- and all that. And at the same time, do you believe, really, whatever is going on this - because Iran is now - is, was, or will be isolated and people - that they might come back on the table and they might agree with the, let's say, same deal like with India, the civil nuclear agreement? Are you still going to go with Iran with the civil nuclear agreement?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we've said many times, the Secretary has said many times that Iran has a right to a civilian nuclear program. The dilemma for us and for the international community is, increasingly, the actions that Iran is taking, its refusal to engage, points to the potential that it is, in fact, pursuing a military program. We want to see Iran come to the table, answer the questions that we have. If they do, yes, they have the ability to pursue a civilian nuclear program. We, of course, have on the table an offer to help them with their legitimate civilian needs, but clearly, that requires Iran to engage constructively, something that they have failed to do.

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