Gas ties sign of friendship, Pakistan says

TEHRAN, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A gas pipeline from Iran's South Pars gas field to Pakistan is symbolic of the level of friendship between Tehran and Islamabad, officials said.

Fehmida Mirza, the speaker of the Pakistani Parliament, arrived in Tehran to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to discuss bilateral relations.

Mirza said it was important for Islamabad to expand its economic relations with Iran, especially as it relates to a planned natural gas pipeline, the Associated Press of Pakistan reports.

A pipeline from the South Pars gas complex in the Persian Gulf, the largest in the world, is planned for Pakistan, which is wrestling with a regional gas crisis.

Iran is eager to expand its client base for its lucrative natural gas resources as international pressure escalates because of a controversial nuclear program.

Washington opposes the project because of the economic benefits it would give to Iran, which is facing punitive economic sanctions for its controversial nuclear program. Tehran on Monday said it was moving ahead with plans to enrich uranium to 20 percent.

Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy to the region, tried in January to persuade Islamabad to leave the project with special offers for gas.

New Delhi was seen as a possible partner for the project, though civilian nuclear energy deals with Washington prompted it to stay on the sidelines. Tehran said China could emerge as a possible partner to replace India.

A deal on the project is expected by the weekend.