Geopolitics, Iran and Nabucco

Geopolitical issues are preventing the Nabucco consortium from considering a link to arteries on the Turkish-Iranian border.

In July, the United States and the European Union  separately imposed new economic sanctions on Iran as punishment for the continuation of its controversial nuclear program. As a result, many international energy companies chose to back out of Iran because of the energy focus of those sanctions.

Iran, nevertheless, has lobbied its neighbors to enhance energy ties, particularly in natural gas. Iran holds the second largest natural gas reserves after Russia, however it's gas export targets have been hindered by the international sanctions that block access to western technology needed to develop its gas exporter.

Iran made some progress this week when Iraq agreed to the terms of a pipeline that would deliver Iranian gas to Syria through its territory.

In an interview with Azerbaijan based Trend News Services, Iraqi Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi stated that his country wants to become an active participant in the Nabucco project, as well as in other projects, once Iraqi gas deliveries recommence.

Iran is also eager to join Nabucco. Tehran said the new pipeline arrangement to Iraq could pave the way toward a similar measure with Turkey for European gas exports.

However, Western officials have ruled out Iranian participation.

Christian Dolezal, a spokesman for the Nabucco consortium in Vienna, told United Press International in response to e-mail questions that the geopolitical climate wasn't favorable for an Iranian role in the project.

"Nabucco is not planning a feeder line to the Turkish-Iranian border for the time being because the current political situation at this stage does not enable gas transport from Iran to Europe," he said.

Source: UPI