Iran seeks gas protections in case of war

Iran has asked Pakistan to sign an amendment to gas deals for a major pipeline that includes legal protections for supplies should Iran face military attack.

The force majeure clause would protect Tehran from legal consequences should India or Pakistan face gas disruptions through the proposed 1,659-mile Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.

Tehran asked Islamabad to include the phrase "situation of armed conflicts or war" as a substitute for "act of war." The new language covers state-centric military conflict rather than internal issues exclusively, the Pakistani Daily Times reported.

Legal advisers to the deal have told Islamabad the provision should be considered, but all parties to the pipeline will have to negotiate on the effects to the Gas Sales Purchasing Agreement.