Iran’s key ally in the current nuclear crisis is not Russia or China.

It’s oil. Tehran can easily drive up prices and is already beginning to do so to rattle the West. As the crisis escalates, Washington’s diplomatic partners will become gravely worried about their energy supplies.

In the end, Iran’s petro power will probably trump Western diplomacy.
jsonline.com

Pakistani and Iranian experts on Saturday continued discussion on the 7.1 billion U.S. dollars worth Iran- Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

They both expressed determination to implement the project as soon as possible, officials said.

The Pakistan and Iran Joint Working Group discussed technical and financial issues involved in the project, route and pricing formula, a Pakistan petroleum ministry statement said.

Pakistan had sent a draft gas pricing formula to Iran based on domestic gas pricing mechanism and the two sides discussed the formula in the talks.

“The two sides expressed full satisfaction over the pace of dialogue over the project,” the statement said.

The two sides would finalize the talks on Sunday, it said.
peoplesdaily.com

The Bush administration is seeking to curb Moscow’s influence in the Caucasus and central Asia and weaken Gazprom’s growing hold over gas supplies to Europe with an effort to promote new oil and gas corridors that would bypass Russia and exclude Iran.

US intentions were highlighted on Friday when President George W. Bush welcomed President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the White House, stressing the importance of their security and energy relationship.
ft.com