TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Tehran plans to move ahead with a pipeline to Europe independent of the planned Nabucco gas project with Russian support, lawmakers said Friday.
Iran had expressed interest in joining the planned Nabucco project from Central Asia to Europe, but increasing pressure over Iran's controversial nuclear program caused Europe to shy away from the move.
Iranian oil officials said the nation would move ahead with an independent Persian Pipeline as a consequence, and Friday, Tehran said it had received backing from Russia to proceed with those plans, the Trend Capital News Agency said Friday.
"Iran obtained Russia's agreement to construct the Persian Pipeline," Iranian lawmaker Hossein Zoulanvar told Trend.
The lawmaker said Iran plans to foot the bill for the project, though he also welcomed any outside investors. Turkey has also pledged to host a portion of the pipeline to Europe, he said.
The proposed $6 billion Persian Pipeline will stretch roughly 2,000 miles from Iran to European markets.
