WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Washington is considering the role of energy security in foreign affairs as its European allies weigh partnership options for a major natural gas pipeline.
Regional partners and supporters of the Nabucco gas pipeline for Europe convened in Ankara this week to sign a breakthrough agreement on the $10.3 billion project.
Nabucco would break the Russian grip on the European energy sector, though the project lacks firm financial support and commitments from major gas suppliers. Iraq came forward with a generous gas offer for the project, while Ankara said Iran may come on board when the time is right.
Richard Morningstar, the U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy, stressed that Washington felt Iran should not benefit from European gas initiatives while concerns linger over its controversial nuclear program, Voice of America reports.
"This would be the absolute worst time to encourage Iran to participate in a project in Nabucco, when we have received absolutely nothing in return," he said.
His comments come as U.S. lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee weigh the impact of energy supplies, regional instability and U.S. foreign policy.
"There is a striking overlap between the world's sources of energy and the world's sources of instability, and we need to take note of that carefully," said the committee's chairman, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
