Syria and Iran mull gas pipeline

United Press International - Security & Terrorism - Syria and Iran mull gas pipeline

Syria and Iran mull gas pipeline

DAMASCUS, Syria, March 9 (UPI) -- Two states under pressure from Washington are discussing building a strategic oil pipeline.

Syria and Iran are negotiating the possibility of building the pipeline from Iran to Syria to the Mediterranean across Iraq, according to the Syrian newspaper al-Thawra.

Al-Thawra reported that the two countries have established a Syrian-Iranian Joint Committee to investigate the project, which local analysts believe will benefit all three countries involved.

The deal is part of a 2001 Memo of Understanding signed between Syria and Iran on joint energy projects.

The Syrian-Iranian Joint Committee also discussed possibly constructing an additional natural gas line across Iraq and Syria, which would link with the Arab Gas Line currently under construction to transport Egyptian natural gas through Syria and Jordan.

Trade between Syria and Iran has increased recently as the two countries signed preferential trade agreements and several accords on finance, industry, power, textile, oil, environment and culture during the February visit to Syria by Iran's First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi.